Amber waves of grain

Bjarne Bare and Sessa Englund
Twentynine Palms, CA
April 6-June 1, 2024

Nestled among the undulating fields of golden wheat, in the desolate expanse of Southern California's desert, where the sun blazes unforgivingly and the land sprawls out like a forgotten tapestry, there stands a modest homestead. This outpost, embodies the raw, unyielding spirit of America's westward expansion, echoing the resilience and tenacity of the settlers who came before.

These settlers arrived with naught but a dream and the tools they could carry. Shovels, picks, and axes were their steadfast companions, essential for breaking the unyielding earth and forging their futures in this harsh, unforgiving land. With these rudimentary yet indispensable implements, they toiled ceaselessly, carving wells, raising adobe dwellings, and coaxing life from the sun-baked soil.

Much like their ancestors who tamed the untamed wilds, the settlers understood the value of hard labor and steadfast resolve. They fashioned their homes from the very earth beneath their feet, using age-old techniques passed down through generations to create shelters that stood defiant against the desert's relentless onslaught.