The end-stage yuccas of the Mojave, animated and human-scale, had me seeing things: elders, aliens, ghosts, shamans, kings, queens, warriors, victims, seekers, and migrants. They appear to be silently moving through the desert with me as their sole witness.
This particular group of individuals is located on a property aptly named Mystery Ranch, a creative space for artists and scientists. Situated within the landscape of southwestern Nevada, the ranch is operated by artist and activist Kim Garrison-Means, along with family and friends. This creative space sits upon a portion of the 443,000 acres that surround nearby Avi Kwa Ame or Spirit Mountain, a sacred site used by Native Americans for centuries. It is now proposed to become the nation’s newest designated national monument through the efforts of a coalition of Native Americans, artists, biologists and environmentalists. Yucca People comes out of this sacred land and is a tribute to the spirit of Avi Kwa Ame.
