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GESTURES FROM THE LAND
In celebration of native plants and public lands
June 26 – September 25, 2025
Opening event: Thursday, June 26, 2025, 5:30-8:00pm
Location: Co-Fe Santa Fe, 314 S Guadalupe St.
Plants and wildflowers are essential to life on earth. Public lands across the Southwest have reliably exploded with floral color each spring. But, as heat moves into the higher altitudes, as deserts become hotter and dryer, as snow melts faster and rains become more unpredictable; so do wildflower blooms. Santa Fe based photographer Christina Selby gives us a view of the remarkable floral diversity on our public lands in New Mexico and the broader Southwest, as both a cause for celebration and protection, in GESTURES FROM THE LAND.
The Southwest hosts extraordinary biodiversity, including many rare and endemic plant species. New Mexico is the fourth most botanically diverse state in the country, and many species new to science are still being documented and described. Over 4,200 plant species have been documented in New Mexico; 235 of which are rare or endangered plants and over 110 are endemic, meaning they occur nowhere else in the world. Rare plants face an array of threats from climate change, development, and other land use stressors, which are especially significant for small populations with restricted ranges, which is the case for many of the species endemic to New Mexico.
Through this collaborative exhibit, we aim to highlight the rich biodiversity of plants in New Mexico and the Southwest and their invaluable contributions to ecosystem health and as resources for pollinators, wildlife and people, and call upon viewers to support conservation of our rare and native plants and the public lands and habitats where they are found.
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.
