Hatchhatchie VIII

12 x 12 x 1.5 inches

Collage with screenprint and linoleum block elements on wood panel

2024

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For over a century, this sacred body of water known as the Hetch Hetchy has been the lifeblood of the Bay Area, providing clean drinking water and sustainable electricity to the city. The name we use today is derived from the Miwok word hatchhatchie, which means “edible grasses.” 

The Hetch Hetchy Valley was once a pristine wilderness stewarded by Native American communities. The Paiute people referred to the valley as Iyaydzi. Before it became a reservoir in 1923, this great meadow was full of oak trees, grass, and deer.

The valley's transformation sparked controversy and activism. Despite its designation as protected land within Yosemite National Park, plans to dam and flood Hetch Hetchy were approved by Congress in 1913. This inspired an international environmental movement to preserve and protect exceptional landscapes.

Water is Life. It is important that in these times of climate crisis, we acknowledge the harms committed to lands and to the people who stewarded these lands, and that we explore pathways towards repair. 

Let's honor and protect the life force that sustains us all.