The piece is an abstract representation of the past, present, and future. There's a lot I depicted within this timeline to showcase all the beautiful minds we have living amongst ourselves and our mother earth. This opportunity gave me the chance to experiment with a concept that the Water has always been here while finding ways to collect, preserve, and share it in a non and native way, so with that in mind I used it as a portal to balance out the elements to create an understanding through the subcultures. That there's multiple practices we use to display the same principle, which is providing the gift of Water.
All the different age levels and backgrounds we come from doesn't matter that much, because you have to remember we're all in this one world together, it’s a rough but good path while teaching what I have been learning like the history of my ancestors of the Tohono O'odham Nation and Pascua Yaqui Tribe:
• How it was: We collected Water as well as native fruits and plants to provide growth among our communities.
• How it is: We still practice those cultural teachings.
• How it could be: Use cultural techniques and apply our ways with modern teachings to grow even further and make connections with other like-minded individuals.
The past wisdom, like traditional ecological knowledge, has been around for many years and gives us grounding as well as a solid foundation. With people being aware of these important factors and wanting to understand those values in the present is an eye-opening experience. That gives me a sense of gratitude knowing that my ancestors had the right ideas to sustain the planet.
With this holistic mindset there is always room to grow and it's never too late to learn new things, especially for the future. It's beautiful to know that there's change happening to get more people involved in this way of life and that there's always something to do for one another and ourselves, so the future has a future. Seven generations strong is what I chose to display – how everything is connected to the People, Elements, Animals, Plants. We need one another to grow in a good way.
I just want to say I'm very grateful to be able to share this part of my heart for everyone and everything. It's rough, tough, but doable. We all want the same thing, a good path which is possible once we communicate, understand and work together.
- Artist Statement by Deersinger, aka Derrick Gozales