Grant Work | Adriana Lopez-Ospina

Creative Corps Inland SoCal Grant

About
Text & Textiles

Adriana was awarded the 2023/2024 Creative Corps Inland SoCal Grant for her proposal of

Text & Textiles. Her project outlined a year long workshop series that explored the intersection of

text and textiles to address public health and environmental issues through visual and literary creative means.

The use of fiber and writing operated as a way to express our interconnectedness.

Fiber is defined as “a thread or filament from which a vegetable, mineral substance, or textile is formed” but also as “strength of character.” Fibers intertwine to create all forms of materials and in a way we can define people as forms of fiber that are connected and affected by its environment.

The workshops culminated in a finale exhibition titled "Salt of the Earth." The exhibition showcased the collaborative installation works and writings created by participants of the workshops along with the work of individual artists that shared their perspective on the issue.

Salton Sea Lungs, 5' x 5' each

Wool, steel wire & pvc pipes

Salton Sea Lungs is a collaborative installation created by the senior communities of Mecca, Thermal and North Shore. Each community wove their own pair of lungs that were then placed outside at the Salton Sea Beach and Yacht Club to act as filters and collect the corse particulate matter that is known to cause various types of respiratory diseases. Community made lungs were part of the exhibit along with a clean pair of lungs made by Adriana that were kept indoors for a before and after comparison.

Salton Sea Replica:

Paper Cranes & Palm Woven Fish

The Salton Sea Replica was a collaborative installation created by participants from Desert Hot Springs, Coachella, Indio, Mecca, Thermal and North Shore. Through over 25 workshops participant made a paper crane and palm woven fish that was then either added to the replica of the Salton Sea in the center of the room for the exhibition or pinned to the surrounding walls. While learning how to make the cranes and fish participants were taught about the 400+ species of birds and the depleted fish populations that use the Salton Sea as part of their migratory path, live permanently in this environment or have since been lost to the lake. They were able to share which animals they liked the most and what hopes they had for the future of the lake.

Prose & Poetry

The room of Prose & Poetry was dedicated to the writings that the community put to paper during a workshop held by Props 2 Poetry duo Arturo and Erica Castellanos. Participants were asked to write about their past experiences with the Salton Sea as well as their visions for it's future as rehabilitation projects come to fruition in the region.

Exhibition Press Release:

"The Walter N. Marks Center for the Arts is proud to announce the opening of "Salt of the Earth," a compelling exhibition that delves into the pressing public health and environmental issues stemming from the Salton Sea. As the lake diminishes, it releases harmful sediments into neighboring communities, exacerbating respiratory diseases and threatening local ecosystems. The exhibition will feature a collection of community-created installations and individual artist works. The exhibition will be on display May 13-23 and the reception will take place on May 17th from 4-6pm at the Marks Art Center, 43500 Monterey Ave, Palm Desert CA 92260.

"Salt of the Earth" emerges from the

Text & Textiles initiative by Lopez-Ospina, a year-long project supported by the California Arts Council through the Creative Corps Inland SoCal Grant. This initiative empowered participants to express their experiences through fiber and writing, fostering awareness and dialogue surrounding environmental challenges."

Salt of the Earth was co-curated by Adriana and Bill Schinsky as a cumulative final exhibition of all the works made by the community as individual works done by local artists that have a deep connection to the Coachella Valley.