Expired Palms
Expired Palms documents the battle between two non-native species — the Canary Island palm and the South American palm weevil. The Canary Island palm is an iconic symbol of Southern California, yet it is not universally loved by locals because it is not an authentic expression of the region. Rather, it was imported in the 19th century to enchant newcomers. So there is a certain irony to the fact that the palms are now threatened by another invader. The palm weevil’s larvae eat the interior of the trunk of the palms, eventually killing the trees. I chose a combination of Polaroid SX-70 prints and acrylic gel transfer images on wood cubes to capture the palms’ fading glory.
