hello I don’t mean to brag but I have had the honor of meeting some of the
had the honor of meeting some of the
had the honor of meeting some of the most beautiful women in the world
most beautiful women in the world
most beautiful women in the world I met them doing fashion photography
I met them doing fashion photography
I met them doing fashion photography naturally these women were grandmothers
naturally these women were grandmothers
naturally these women were grandmothers women of silver hair with braids and
women of silver hair with braids and
women of silver hair with braids and ribbons well-earned wrinkles and
ribbons well-earned wrinkles and
ribbons well-earned wrinkles and fashions generations deep I spent two
fashions generations deep I spent two
fashions generations deep I spent two years making photographs of people in
years making photographs of people in
years making photographs of people in their look
their look
their look but not just any people not just any
but not just any people not just any
but not just any people not just any look my focus was quite specific there’s
look my focus was quite specific there’s
look my focus was quite specific there’s a state in the south of Mexico called
a state in the south of Mexico called
a state in the south of Mexico called Oaxaca where I’ve spent half my life and
Oaxaca where I’ve spent half my life and
Oaxaca where I’ve spent half my life and though Oaxaca isn’t particularly large
though Oaxaca isn’t particularly large
though Oaxaca isn’t particularly large it’s tremendously diverse among the
it’s tremendously diverse among the
it’s tremendously diverse among the original inhabitants of Oaxaca
original inhabitants of Oaxaca
original inhabitants of Oaxaca there’s 16 languages that are spoken and
there’s 16 languages that are spoken and
there’s 16 languages that are spoken and in the villages of Oaxaca old ways of
in the villages of Oaxaca old ways of
in the villages of Oaxaca old ways of being human old ways of doing persist
being human old ways of doing persist
being human old ways of doing persist and in some of these communities there
and in some of these communities there
and in some of these communities there is a tradition a custom of dress and
is a tradition a custom of dress and
is a tradition a custom of dress and adornment that I call community fashion
adornment that I call community fashion
adornment that I call community fashion which was once common around the world
which was once common around the world
which was once common around the world and now has become incredibly rare
and now has become incredibly rare
and now has become incredibly rare community fashion is a way of dressing
community fashion is a way of dressing
community fashion is a way of dressing shared in common by members of a town or
shared in common by members of a town or
shared in common by members of a town or a village a collective identity and
a village a collective identity and
a village a collective identity and oftentimes the clothing is made by the
oftentimes the clothing is made by the
oftentimes the clothing is made by the very people of those communities and
very people of those communities and
very people of those communities and into that clothing of work designs rich
into that clothing of work designs rich
into that clothing of work designs rich with symbols and meaning that have been
with symbols and meaning that have been
with symbols and meaning that have been dreamed into being over the generations
stories in cloth that like language are
stories in cloth that like language are dynamic and slowly evolving these were
dynamic and slowly evolving these were
dynamic and slowly evolving these were the people that I wanted to recognize
the people that I wanted to recognize
the people that I wanted to recognize with my photography and theirs was the
with my photography and theirs was the
with my photography and theirs was the look that I wanted to honor and so I
look that I wanted to honor and so I
look that I wanted to honor and so I traveled the breadth and the width of
traveled the breadth and the width of
traveled the breadth and the width of this state of Oaxaca looking for every
this state of Oaxaca looking for every
this state of Oaxaca looking for every single village I could find where people
single village I could find where people
single village I could find where people still dressed in the clothing of their
still dressed in the clothing of their
still dressed in the clothing of their village where it survived or even
village where it survived or even
village where it survived or even thrived and all told I found 57
thrived and all told I found 57
thrived and all told I found 57 different communities 57 different ways
different communities 57 different ways
different communities 57 different ways dressing and expressing yourself through
dressing and expressing yourself through
dressing and expressing yourself through your clothing and created more than 200
your clothing and created more than 200
your clothing and created more than 200 portraits but before I share any of
portraits but before I share any of
portraits but before I share any of these with you I need to make a little
these with you I need to make a little
these with you I need to make a little confession as I stand here and speak to
confession as I stand here and speak to
confession as I stand here and speak to you about this fashion focused
you about this fashion focused
you about this fashion focused photographic project here at the Fashion
photographic project here at the Fashion
photographic project here at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC and that
Institute of Technology in NYC and that
Institute of Technology in NYC and that is that fashion wasn’t really the focus
is that fashion wasn’t really the focus
is that fashion wasn’t really the focus of this photographic project and I think
of this photographic project and I think
of this photographic project and I think I can explain what my motives were by
I can explain what my motives were by
I can explain what my motives were by answering this simple question and the
answering this simple question and the
answering this simple question and the question is but there’s a sagebrush know
question is but there’s a sagebrush know
question is but there’s a sagebrush know that the tumbleweed done now if you know
that the tumbleweed done now if you know
that the tumbleweed done now if you know the answer don’t give it away you know
the answer don’t give it away you know
the answer don’t give it away you know it don’t you
it don’t you
it don’t you it goes something like this I was born
it goes something like this I was born
it goes something like this I was born in Reno Nevada my mother was born in Los
in Reno Nevada my mother was born in Los
in Reno Nevada my mother was born in Los Angeles California my father was born in
Angeles California my father was born in
Angeles California my father was born in Novato California my mother’s father was
Novato California my mother’s father was
Novato California my mother’s father was born in Oklahoma my father’s mother was
born in Oklahoma my father’s mother was
born in Oklahoma my father’s mother was born in Chicago their parents my
born in Chicago their parents my
born in Chicago their parents my great-grandparents I don’t know where
great-grandparents I don’t know where
great-grandparents I don’t know where they were born but my father studied
they were born but my father studied
they were born but my father studied University in Reno which is where he met
University in Reno which is where he met
University in Reno which is where he met my mother and that’s how I came to be
my mother and that’s how I came to be
my mother and that’s how I came to be there either them live there anymore I
there either them live there anymore I
there either them live there anymore I study University in Arcadia California I
study University in Arcadia California I
study University in Arcadia California I don’t live there anymore either and as I
don’t live there anymore either and as I
don’t live there anymore either and as I look at this recent snapshot of my
look at this recent snapshot of my
look at this recent snapshot of my family history what I see are so many
family history what I see are so many
family history what I see are so many tumbleweeds blowing in the wind a
tumbleweeds blowing in the wind a
tumbleweeds blowing in the wind a tumbleweed is a kind of nomadic plant it
tumbleweed is a kind of nomadic plant it
tumbleweed is a kind of nomadic plant it takes root in a certain piece of soil
takes root in a certain piece of soil
takes root in a certain piece of soil grows for a period of time and then when
grows for a period of time and then when
grows for a period of time and then when the right gust of wind comes along where
the right gust of wind comes along where
the right gust of wind comes along where the trunk meets the soil that breaks off
the trunk meets the soil that breaks off
the trunk meets the soil that breaks off at the roots and begins it’s tumbling
at the roots and begins it’s tumbling
at the roots and begins it’s tumbling waves now here in America I don’t think
waves now here in America I don’t think
waves now here in America I don’t think the tumbling waves of my family are
the tumbling waves of my family are
the tumbling waves of my family are particularly unusual many of us are born
particularly unusual many of us are born
particularly unusual many of us are born in one place and it moved on to another
in one place and it moved on to another
in one place and it moved on to another but one reason or another but something
but one reason or another but something
but one reason or another but something that I’ve always wondered is what would
that I’ve always wondered is what would
that I’ve always wondered is what would it be like to really be from a place I
it be like to really be from a place I
it be like to really be from a place I mean in a sense I kind of know because
mean in a sense I kind of know because
mean in a sense I kind of know because of course I am from a place I was born
of course I am from a place I was born
of course I am from a place I was born on the eastern side of this year in
on the eastern side of this year in
on the eastern side of this year in Nevada mountains and grew up in these
Nevada mountains and grew up in these
Nevada mountains and grew up in these long desert valleys carpeted by this
long desert valleys carpeted by this
long desert valleys carpeted by this iconic Western plant called sagebrush
iconic Western plant called sagebrush
iconic Western plant called sagebrush where the summer rains would come down
where the summer rains would come down
where the summer rains would come down and meet the shimmering heat coming off
and meet the shimmering heat coming off
and meet the shimmering heat coming off the soil and invigorate this sweet and
the soil and invigorate this sweet and
the soil and invigorate this sweet and pungent smell of that sagebrush this
pungent smell of that sagebrush this
pungent smell of that sagebrush this perfume of the earth
perfume of the earth
perfume of the earth I swear ever open up my heart for some
I swear ever open up my heart for some
I swear ever open up my heart for some reason that’s what it’s gonna smell like
reason that’s what it’s gonna smell like
reason that’s what it’s gonna smell like the smell of summer rain on sagebrush
the smell of summer rain on sagebrush
the smell of summer rain on sagebrush that place has marked me forever perhaps
that place has marked me forever perhaps
that place has marked me forever perhaps in the way that a birth Creek would mark
in the way that a birth Creek would mark
in the way that a birth Creek would mark the salmon but I was only a tumbleweed
the salmon but I was only a tumbleweed
the salmon but I was only a tumbleweed there dropped into place by another
there dropped into place by another
there dropped into place by another tumbleweed and soon enough my
tumbleweed and soon enough my
tumbleweed and soon enough my fast-growing trunk broke off at the
fast-growing trunk broke off at the
fast-growing trunk broke off at the roots and I began a little weight all
roots and I began a little weight all
roots and I began a little weight all around me through that sagebrush firmly
around me through that sagebrush firmly
around me through that sagebrush firmly rooted to its place on earth and I
rooted to its place on earth and I
rooted to its place on earth and I wonder what does the sagebrush know that
wonder what does the sagebrush know that
wonder what does the sagebrush know that the tumbleweed doesn’t what would it be
the tumbleweed doesn’t what would it be
the tumbleweed doesn’t what would it be like to have roots but firmly go into
like to have roots but firmly go into
like to have roots but firmly go into the soil keep you there feeding off the
the soil keep you there feeding off the
the soil keep you there feeding off the nutrients of that place what would it be
nutrients of that place what would it be
nutrients of that place what would it be like to be from a place where your
like to be from a place where your
like to be from a place where your parents and your grandparents and your
parents and your grandparents and your
parents and your grandparents and your great-grandparents were from people who
great-grandparents were from people who
great-grandparents were from people who intimately knew the hills and valleys
intimately knew the hills and valleys
intimately knew the hills and valleys and neighborhoods around and depended on
and neighborhoods around and depended on
and neighborhoods around and depended on those hills and valleys and neighbors
those hills and valleys and neighbors
those hills and valleys and neighbors for their well-being what would it be
for their well-being what would it be
for their well-being what would it be like to grow up fed on the generational
like to grow up fed on the generational
like to grow up fed on the generational stories and legends of this place on
stories and legends of this place on
stories and legends of this place on earth that you were from and what if the
earth that you were from and what if the
earth that you were from and what if the food on your plate came from that land
food on your plate came from that land
food on your plate came from that land around you as much a part of it as your
around you as much a part of it as your
around you as much a part of it as your mother’s voice was a part of you and
mother’s voice was a part of you and
mother’s voice was a part of you and what if the language that your mother
what if the language that your mother
what if the language that your mother spoke your language was an echo of this
spoke your language was an echo of this
spoke your language was an echo of this unique corner of her a language of her
unique corner of her a language of her
unique corner of her a language of her grand extended community clothing would
grand extended community clothing would
grand extended community clothing would be that way too going far enough back
be that way too going far enough back
be that way too going far enough back the clothing you wore would have been a
the clothing you wore would have been a
the clothing you wore would have been a direct offshoot of the land was it made
direct offshoot of the land was it made
direct offshoot of the land was it made of cotton or wool silk or sisal and
of cotton or wool silk or sisal and
of cotton or wool silk or sisal and would your clothing like the food on
would your clothing like the food on
would your clothing like the food on your plate the stories of the old-timers
your plate the stories of the old-timers
your plate the stories of the old-timers the language that you spoke become
the language that you spoke become
the language that you spoke become another symbol that connected you to
another symbol that connected you to
another symbol that connected you to people in a place
people in a place
people in a place like a flag that you wear over your
like a flag that you wear over your
like a flag that you wear over your shoulders and draped around your hips a
shoulders and draped around your hips a
shoulders and draped around your hips a flag that says I am of week and we are
flag that says I am of week and we are
flag that says I am of week and we are here
here
here what kind of sense of self with such a
what kind of sense of self with such a
what kind of sense of self with such a clear connection to place in family and
clear connection to place in family and
clear connection to place in family and community give you would that be like
community give you would that be like
community give you would that be like this is a question I’ve silently asked
this is a question I’ve silently asked
this is a question I’ve silently asked myself for my entire life
myself for my entire life
myself for my entire life I may be more accurately inside there
I may be more accurately inside there
I may be more accurately inside there has been this yearning this sense of
has been this yearning this sense of
has been this yearning this sense of hunger a loss of something that I never
hunger a loss of something that I never
hunger a loss of something that I never even had something that is only defined
even had something that is only defined
even had something that is only defined by a negative space inside of me and it
by a negative space inside of me and it
by a negative space inside of me and it is this hunger the sense of loss that is
is this hunger the sense of loss that is
is this hunger the sense of loss that is the genesis of this photographic project
the genesis of this photographic project
the genesis of this photographic project because isn’t it true that when we have
because isn’t it true that when we have
because isn’t it true that when we have a hunger we try to feed ourselves and
a hunger we try to feed ourselves and
a hunger we try to feed ourselves and for me the clearest most beautiful way
for me the clearest most beautiful way
for me the clearest most beautiful way to represent this somewhat intangible
to represent this somewhat intangible
to represent this somewhat intangible thing called heritage or belonging these
thing called heritage or belonging these
thing called heritage or belonging these roots is through photography of
roots is through photography of
roots is through photography of traditional people in the clothing they
traditional people in the clothing they
traditional people in the clothing they wear people who understand belonging in
wear people who understand belonging in
wear people who understand belonging in connection the way I understand
connection the way I understand
connection the way I understand breathing so it may seem like the focus
breathing so it may seem like the focus
breathing so it may seem like the focus of this project is fashion but for me
of this project is fashion but for me
of this project is fashion but for me it’s not so much about how people dress
it’s not so much about how people dress
it’s not so much about how people dress but what is symbolized by dressing in a
but what is symbolized by dressing in a
but what is symbolized by dressing in a way that is shared in common with the
way that is shared in common with the
way that is shared in common with the members of your village or talent wear
members of your village or talent wear
members of your village or talent wear clothing becomes a flag of the Ottoman
clothing becomes a flag of the Ottoman
clothing becomes a flag of the Ottoman belonging a clear statement of being
belonging a clear statement of being
belonging a clear statement of being from a place and a history and a
from a place and a history and a
from a place and a history and a beautiful woven artistic link to ancient
beautiful woven artistic link to ancient
beautiful woven artistic link to ancient and deep skills imbued with story and
and deep skills imbued with story and
and deep skills imbued with story and meaning and we’re in each and every one
meaning and we’re in each and every one
meaning and we’re in each and every one of these rooted communities once parents
of these rooted communities once parents
of these rooted communities once parents and grandparents and great-grandparents
and grandparents and great-grandparents
and grandparents and great-grandparents were also from there knowing that they
were also from there knowing that they
were also from there knowing that they were part of an extended family
were part of an extended family
were part of an extended family this oldest and most perfect human
this oldest and most perfect human
this oldest and most perfect human support network and night and likewise
support network and night and likewise
support network and night and likewise members of an interwoven community
says I am connected to this grand
says I am connected to this grand network to the support circle places by
network to the support circle places by
network to the support circle places by the way where there’s great food one of
the way where there’s great food one of
the way where there’s great food one of the Benny’s of a good community to be
the Benny’s of a good community to be
the Benny’s of a good community to be born into a place like this where so
born into a place like this where so
born into a place like this where so many generations of your ancestors have
many generations of your ancestors have
many generations of your ancestors have lived is to live in layer upon layer of
lived is to live in layer upon layer of
lived is to live in layer upon layer of stories the fertile compost of layer
stories the fertile compost of layer
stories the fertile compost of layer upon layer of stories generations of
upon layer of stories generations of
upon layer of stories generations of being and experience the death of
being and experience the death of
being and experience the death of lifetimes enriching your roots
I met one about Teesta in a village
I met one about Teesta in a village called some poverty health topic and she
called some poverty health topic and she
called some poverty health topic and she told me stories about her clothing she
told me stories about her clothing she
told me stories about her clothing she said I learned to make my clothing from
said I learned to make my clothing from
said I learned to make my clothing from my mother and she learned from her
my mother and she learned from her
my mother and she learned from her mother before her and he paused and she
mother before her and he paused and she
mother before her and he paused and she looked me in the eyes and she said you
looked me in the eyes and she said you
looked me in the eyes and she said you know I guess my clothing is my memory
know I guess my clothing is my memory
know I guess my clothing is my memory and in the town of Tehuantepec I met
and in the town of Tehuantepec I met
and in the town of Tehuantepec I met Fernando Sanchez who was a colonel in
Fernando Sanchez who was a colonel in
Fernando Sanchez who was a colonel in the Mexican army for decades and when
the Mexican army for decades and when
the Mexican army for decades and when she retired and she moved back to her
she retired and she moved back to her
she retired and she moved back to her town where she had grown up she said to
town where she had grown up she said to
town where she had grown up she said to come back and put on our clothing was
come back and put on our clothing was
come back and put on our clothing was like slipping back into my skin what a
like slipping back into my skin what a
like slipping back into my skin what a beautiful sentiment I photographed so
beautiful sentiment I photographed so
beautiful sentiment I photographed so quarter of Paulina
quarter of Paulina
quarter of Paulina at a holy place on the outskirts of her
at a holy place on the outskirts of her
at a holy place on the outskirts of her village of Kino deputies on Louise
village of Kino deputies on Louise
village of Kino deputies on Louise surrounded by sacred symbols she’s
surrounded by sacred symbols she’s
surrounded by sacred symbols she’s wearing a postal wonka a kind of skirt
wearing a postal wonka a kind of skirt
wearing a postal wonka a kind of skirt iconic of that community that she will
iconic of that community that she will
iconic of that community that she will herself from cotton and silk and she
herself from cotton and silk and she
herself from cotton and silk and she said we’re married and buried in our
said we’re married and buried in our
said we’re married and buried in our best basa long hose at her side across
best basa long hose at her side across
best basa long hose at her side across emblematic of a religion brought to
emblematic of a religion brought to
emblematic of a religion brought to Mexico by the Spaniards in the 1500s and
Mexico by the Spaniards in the 1500s and
Mexico by the Spaniards in the 1500s and behind her grows a symmetry in the
behind her grows a symmetry in the
behind her grows a symmetry in the ancient times in Mexico the ceiba tree
ancient times in Mexico the ceiba tree
ancient times in Mexico the ceiba tree was considered the tree of life a very
was considered the tree of life a very
was considered the tree of life a very sacred symbol with the roots growing
sacred symbol with the roots growing
sacred symbol with the roots growing into the loamy soil the realm of
into the loamy soil the realm of
into the loamy soil the realm of ancestors and spirits in the trunk
ancestors and spirits in the trunk
ancestors and spirits in the trunk representing the human world in the
representing the human world in the
representing the human world in the upward reaching branches the home of the
upward reaching branches the home of the
upward reaching branches the home of the gods and there she stands with her bare
gods and there she stands with her bare
gods and there she stands with her bare feet on the ground her bare feet
feet on the ground her bare feet
feet on the ground her bare feet touching her one sacred place on earth
touching her one sacred place on earth
touching her one sacred place on earth those feet in this sacred place on earth
and there were stories have changed in
and there were stories have changed in stories of loss in many communities
stories of loss in many communities
stories of loss in many communities commercial clothing store bought
commercial clothing store bought
commercial clothing store bought clothing is replacing traditional
clothing is replacing traditional
clothing is replacing traditional clothing and there are reasons for that
clothing and there are reasons for that
clothing and there are reasons for that one of them might be that commercial
one of them might be that commercial
one of them might be that commercial clothing is cheaper it might be more
clothing is cheaper it might be more
clothing is cheaper it might be more comfortable it might be perceived as
comfortable it might be perceived as
comfortable it might be perceived as being hipper it might even be matter of
being hipper it might even be matter of
being hipper it might even be matter of a better maid but also to be indigenous
a better maid but also to be indigenous
a better maid but also to be indigenous in Mexico like in so many places in this
in Mexico like in so many places in this
in Mexico like in so many places in this world is to be subjected to
world is to be subjected to
world is to be subjected to discrimination and to put on the costume
discrimination and to put on the costume
discrimination and to put on the costume of the outside world is to avoid some of
of the outside world is to avoid some of
of the outside world is to avoid some of that discrimination and yet there is a
that discrimination and yet there is a
that discrimination and yet there is a soul soothing pride in wearing the
soul soothing pride in wearing the
soul soothing pride in wearing the clothing of your community and it was
clothing of your community and it was
clothing of your community and it was expressed to me again and again and
expressed to me again and again and
expressed to me again and again and again but in spite of that it is
again but in spite of that it is
again but in spite of that it is disappearing in this town of y la la I
disappearing in this town of y la la I
disappearing in this town of y la la I found 40 women who still dressed in the
found 40 women who still dressed in the
found 40 women who still dressed in the way of their village and in falaqa
way of their village and in falaqa
way of their village and in falaqa there were only four and when it’s gone
there were only four and when it’s gone
there were only four and when it’s gone in 2/3 of the 57 villages that I visited
in 2/3 of the 57 villages that I visited
in 2/3 of the 57 villages that I visited the only people I could find who still
the only people I could find who still
the only people I could find who still dressed in the clothing of their
dressed in the clothing of their
dressed in the clothing of their community were the grandmothers by the
community were the grandmothers by the
community were the grandmothers by the time their daughters were born the
time their daughters were born the
time their daughters were born the fast-moving outside world had come in
fast-moving outside world had come in
fast-moving outside world had come in and things have begun to change these
and things have begun to change these
and things have begun to change these beautiful grandmother’s of silver hair
beautiful grandmother’s of silver hair
beautiful grandmother’s of silver hair and braids and ribbons with Weller and
and braids and ribbons with Weller and
and braids and ribbons with Weller and wrinkles wearing fashions deeply rooted
wrinkles wearing fashions deeply rooted
wrinkles wearing fashions deeply rooted may very well be the last generation in
may very well be the last generation in
may very well be the last generation in these communities to dress in these
these communities to dress in these
these communities to dress in these flags of their community for me their
flags of their community for me their
flags of their community for me their beauty stems from many things not the
beauty stems from many things not the
beauty stems from many things not the least of which is that they carry within
least of which is that they carry within
least of which is that they carry within their collective experience the unspoken
their collective experience the unspoken
their collective experience the unspoken knowledge of old rooted ways of being
knowledge of old rooted ways of being
knowledge of old rooted ways of being human they are quite literally the
human they are quite literally the
human they are quite literally the grandmothers of the human world the wise
grandmothers of the human world the wise
grandmothers of the human world the wise old ones and they’re beginning to die
old ones and they’re beginning to die
old ones and they’re beginning to die what is lost what is lost when you no
what is lost what is lost when you no
what is lost what is lost when you no longer wear the clothing that represents
longer wear the clothing that represents
longer wear the clothing that represents your own deep history when the food on
your own deep history when the food on
your own deep history when the food on your plate has become generic when the
your plate has become generic when the
your plate has become generic when the language that you spoke the intimations
language that you spoke the intimations
language that you spoke the intimations of your parents in your grandparents is
of your parents in your grandparents is
of your parents in your grandparents is extinct does it even matter are these
extinct does it even matter are these
extinct does it even matter are these just old fashioned relics in a modern
just old fashioned relics in a modern
just old fashioned relics in a modern world maybe so but perhaps with the loss
world maybe so but perhaps with the loss
world maybe so but perhaps with the loss a yearning appears a hunger that grows
a yearning appears a hunger that grows
a yearning appears a hunger that grows over the generations and where once
over the generations and where once
over the generations and where once there was something a long-forgotten
there was something a long-forgotten
there was something a long-forgotten birthright called connection and
birthright called connection and
birthright called connection and belonging once there was something that
belonging once there was something that
belonging once there was something that you can’t quite name it and it’s only
you can’t quite name it and it’s only
you can’t quite name it and it’s only defined by a negative space inside an
defined by a negative space inside an
defined by a negative space inside an emptiness I think of a save a tree once
emptiness I think of a save a tree once
emptiness I think of a save a tree once so revered by the people of Mexico with
so revered by the people of Mexico with
so revered by the people of Mexico with its roots firmly anchored to the soil
its roots firmly anchored to the soil
its roots firmly anchored to the soil and its strong trunk and those upward
and its strong trunk and those upward
and its strong trunk and those upward reaching branches one can think of the
reaching branches one can think of the
reaching branches one can think of the earth as history composed of eroded
earth as history composed of eroded
earth as history composed of eroded stone and life that has been decayed
stone and life that has been decayed
stone and life that has been decayed leaves and trunks in the expired hearts
leaves and trunks in the expired hearts
leaves and trunks in the expired hearts of every living being that which was the
of every living being that which was the
of every living being that which was the past and those roots go down into that
past and those roots go down into that
past and those roots go down into that and feed off of that fertile compost of
and feed off of that fertile compost of
and feed off of that fertile compost of layer upon layer of being an experienced
layer upon layer of being an experienced
layer upon layer of being an experienced recycling that energy back into the
recycling that energy back into the
recycling that energy back into the present again the past is the food of
present again the past is the food of
present again the past is the food of tomorrow and at the office
tomorrow and at the office
tomorrow and at the office opposite extreme of the branches
opposite extreme of the branches
opposite extreme of the branches reaching upwards reaching for the stars
reaching upwards reaching for the stars
reaching upwards reaching for the stars and specifically for our most important
and specifically for our most important
and specifically for our most important star the Sun reaching for that golden
star the Sun reaching for that golden
star the Sun reaching for that golden power reaching for the potential
power reaching for the potential
power reaching for the potential reaching out into thin air reaching for
reaching out into thin air reaching for
reaching out into thin air reaching for some unknown future and the two are
some unknown future and the two are
some unknown future and the two are connected by the trunk this conduit of
connected by the trunk this conduit of
connected by the trunk this conduit of these very different sources of energy a
these very different sources of energy a
these very different sources of energy a link between those grounding roots and
link between those grounding roots and
link between those grounding roots and those upward reaching branches
those upward reaching branches
those upward reaching branches of course the hole creates a perfect
of course the hole creates a perfect
of course the hole creates a perfect balance those of us here in this room
balance those of us here in this room
balance those of us here in this room wrapped up in this bed dazzling and
wrapped up in this bed dazzling and
wrapped up in this bed dazzling and astounding journey called modern Western
astounding journey called modern Western
astounding journey called modern Western civilization I think of us like the
civilization I think of us like the
civilization I think of us like the branches reaching upwards reaching
branches reaching upwards reaching
branches reaching upwards reaching upwards towards that potential towards
upwards towards that potential towards
upwards towards that potential towards possibility toward some unknown tomorrow
possibility toward some unknown tomorrow
possibility toward some unknown tomorrow reaching into thin air looking and
reaching into thin air looking and
reaching into thin air looking and searching reaching for that golden
searching reaching for that golden
searching reaching for that golden potential but I believe we’ve forgotten
potential but I believe we’ve forgotten
potential but I believe we’ve forgotten our roots I share this story for the
our roots I share this story for the
our roots I share this story for the beautiful grandmother’s and the
beautiful grandmother’s and the
beautiful grandmother’s and the grandfathers and for all the people
grandfathers and for all the people
grandfathers and for all the people around the world who are part of this
around the world who are part of this
around the world who are part of this chorus of so many languages and they’re
chorus of so many languages and they’re
chorus of so many languages and they’re rich and singular in it is syncretic
rich and singular in it is syncretic
rich and singular in it is syncretic ways of dressing in eating and gathering
ways of dressing in eating and gathering
ways of dressing in eating and gathering I share this for the people who are fast
I share this for the people who are fast
I share this for the people who are fast moving world has overlooked or worse
moving world has overlooked or worse
moving world has overlooked or worse overrun for the grandmother cultures for
overrun for the grandmother cultures for
overrun for the grandmother cultures for those who still remember the old slow
those who still remember the old slow
those who still remember the old slow learn lessons about belonging to this
learn lessons about belonging to this
learn lessons about belonging to this very precious gift called Earth in
very precious gift called Earth in
very precious gift called Earth in connection
connection
connection to each other from my tumbleweed roots
to each other from my tumbleweed roots
to each other from my tumbleweed roots to my sagebrush Senate heart I think the
to my sagebrush Senate heart I think the
to my sagebrush Senate heart I think the people of Oaxaca for all that they have
people of Oaxaca for all that they have
people of Oaxaca for all that they have taught me we need you
taught me we need you
taught me we need you you who are the deep and solid roots in
you who are the deep and solid roots in
you who are the deep and solid roots in the loamy soil and perhaps if we can be
the loamy soil and perhaps if we can be
the loamy soil and perhaps if we can be humble and quiet and listen their layers
humble and quiet and listen their layers
humble and quiet and listen their layers of knowledge can help our collective
of knowledge can help our collective
of knowledge can help our collective tree from falling over and I share this
tree from falling over and I share this
tree from falling over and I share this for you for us what is the sin of your
for you for us what is the sin of your
for you for us what is the sin of your heart where you deep touch the soil
heart where you deep touch the soil
heart where you deep touch the soil remember remember thank you
remember remember thank you
remember remember thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment