GESTURES FROM THE LAND
In celebration of native plants and public lands
June 26 – September 25, 2025
Opening event: Thursday, June 26, 2025, 5:30-7:30pm
Location: Co-Fe Santa Fe, 314 S Guadalupe St.
Join us for the opening reception of Gestures from the Land, a photography exhibition by Santa Fe-based photographer Christina Selby. Through stunning visual storytelling, Selby captures the extraordinary diversity of wildflowers and native plants across New Mexico and the broader Southwest — landscapes shaped by time, climate, and resilience.
As climate change intensifies and ecosystems shift, wildflower blooms have become more uncertain and precious. This exhibit is both a celebration of nature’s fleeting beauty and a call to action to protect the rare and endemic plants that make our region globally significant.
New Mexico is home to over 4,200 plant species, including more than 235 that are rare or endangered. Gestures from the Land honors this rich biodiversity and the public lands that nurture it, inspiring deeper connection and commitment to conservation. The exhibition supports the conservation programs of the Institute for Applied Ecology, Santa Fe Botanical Garden, and the Native Plant Society of New Mexico.
Refreshments will be served. All are welcome.
For more information, visit Christina Selby’s website.
Christina Selby is a conservation photographer, writer, and botanical artist based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She seeks out wildflower blooms across the Southwest throughout the year, always looking to meet and document new species of wildflowers and share their stories. She uses her images to support conservation groups, and her stories appear in several state and national magazines. She is the author of two outdoor guidebooks including Best Wildflower Hikes New Mexico: A Guide to the Area’s Greatest Wildflower Hiking Adventures and producer of the film Saving Beauty about the efforts to preserve a rare wildflower species and its disappearing habitat.
Artist’s Statement
“The land speaks to us through gestures. If we listen to the land, we will know what to do.” – Terry Tempest Williams, Author
I experience wildflowers as gifts from the divine, tiny works of art sprinkled like raindrops along my path in life. Like spiritual guides, they remind me to slow down – to take joy in the smallest things, and the most fleeting moments. I listen to wildflowers for the stories they want to tell me. I find lessons for my own life in how they adapt and survive, their intricate relationships with pollinators, and how some thrive even in the most inhospitable places. In return for what I am privileged to hear, I share these stories to give the flowers a voice and inspire people to act on their behalf.
The Native Plant Society of New Mexico – Santa Fe Chapter strives to educate the public about native plants by promoting knowledge of plant identification, ecology, and uses; fostering plant conservation and the preservation of natural habitats; supporting botanical research; and encouraging the appropriate use of native plants to conserve water, land, and wildlife.
The Institute for Applied Ecology – Southwest Branch located in Santa Fe, conserves native species and habitats through restoration, research and education. Their vision is a world where all people and wildlands are healthy and interact positively, biological diversity flourishes, and environmental challenges are met with a social commitment to solving problems with scientific principles.
Santa Fe Botanical Garden celebrates, cultivates and conserves the rich botanical heritage and biodiversity of our region. In partnership with nature, we demonstrate our commitment through education, science, conservation, community service, presentation of the arts, and the sustainable management of our public garden.
Co-Fe is a gathering space that celebrates the work of artists and professionals engaged in a variety of environmental protection and social justice initiatives.
