Carra Garza, featured artist, Brigid’s Garden, Semmes Gallery.

Vincent Mariano, featured artist, Brigid’s Garden, Semmes Gallery.

Texas is a vast landscape; the Big Bend, the Gulf Coast, the Piney woods, perhaps even the shimmering skylines of Houston or Dallas. Consider, however, the urban parks, the small natural oases that sometimes struggle to exist within the confines of our freeways and commercial developments. Brigid’s Garden is an exhibition that strives to honor those smaller places and the people who diligently work to protect them. This show is a collection of photographs that traverse the headwaters of the San Antonio River, a 50-acre sanctuary of natural springs, creeks, hiking paths, and forest that are nestled within the grounds of Incarnate Word University. This small preserve lies in the heart of San Antonio and is tended by the Sisters of Charity through their nonprofit organization, the Headwaters Coalition.

The Blue Hole, which is the largest of many springs within the Sanctuary, is considered by most to be the source of the San Antonio River. It predates the earliest human activity in the region and its cultural veracity is perhaps larger than the river itself. As artists, we were excited to interpret a natural area that we knew existed in our own neighborhood, but had not explored. All the photographs in this exhibit are silver-gelatin prints and were produced using large format cameras, sheet film, and a great deal of patience.

As we worked through the seasons for over a year, we began to intimately understand the character of this sanctuary. Landscapes, like people, are very complex and both take time to reveal their secrets. We found the Headwaters to be no different. As the project progressed, we discovered a particular richness in the preserve’s filtered morning light, it became our artist pallet, a conversation between us and the landscape itself. In many ways, Brigid’s Garden took us on a journey of quiet reflection, and, in time, gave up a few of her secrets within the boundaries of this busy University.

One of the many elements that initially attracted us to the Headwaters was the abundance of water. Initially the natural springs were plentiful and mysterious. Their strength of current and insistence were impressive and, in some areas, you could witness the springs fighting against the concrete that was attempting to contain them. Unfortunately, as the 2011 drought grew more intense, the springs dried up. Until the rains return, the water will no longer flow from the Blue Hole and the intersection between this once raging current and Olmos Creek is now a dry, rocky, river bed.

Water is life and watching it slowly vanish is foreboding. Fortunately, Mother Nature is resilient and we hope that through these photographs we are able to introduce the distinctive beauty of the Headwaters.

Carra Garza & Vincent Mariano

Victor Pagona, curator, Brigid’s Garden, Semmes Gallery.

Image making is a complicated endeavor. As one becomes involved in the process of research, pre-visualization, visualization, image capture, responding to the environment, more research, film processing, contact printing, contemplation, printing, evaluating, editing, and writing; we see that even the smallest of projects require a vast amount of work and focused thought. But, a project of this scope, size, and significance requires a considerable focus commonly reserved for tight-rope-walkers, and kindergarten teachers. Luckily, the two photographers that have embarked on this endeavor have focus, fortitude and, a genuine love of the landscape.

Like the celebrated book Walden; or, Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau a deep and sensitive relationship with the landscape can be found right around the corner from ones home. The similarities between Thoreau’s experience and Carra and Vincent’s are many. The headwaters of the San Antonio River are a 50-acre sanctuary; Walden Pond is a 61-acre sanctuary. Thoreau only lived 2 miles from the celebrated landscape that he loved, both Carra and Vincent likewise live only about 2 miles from the Headwaters. Carra and Vincent spent about 2 years exploring the landscape and getting to know the quiet secrets of their urban enchantment, Thoreau spent 2 years living in a cabin in the small 61 acre wood.

I have known both Carra and Vincent for about 10 years in a number of capacities, as their teacher, their mentor, and today as their colleague and friend. They both have enriched my life, the community the Southwest School of Art, and the regional art community. The property that Thoreau wrote about was owned by the famed essayist and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson and one of my favorite quotes from Emerson is “An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory.” This project emphasis this in spades: Image making is indeed a complicated endeavor. I hope you enjoy this show as much as I do.

Victor Pagona

Brigid’s Garden exhibit at Semmes Gallery, University Of The Incarnate Word.

Brigid’s Garden exhibit at Semmes Gallery, University Of The Incarnate Word.

Brigid’s Garden exhibit at Semmes Gallery, University Of The Incarnate Word.

Brigid’s Garden exhibit at Semmes Gallery, University Of The Incarnate Word.

Images by Vincent Mariano and Carra Garza.

Images by Carra Garza and Vincent Mariano.

Opening reception for Brigid’s Garden at the Semmes Gallery.

Opening reception for Brigid’s Garden at the Semmes Gallery.

Nancy Cavender-Garcia and Sarah Pagona.

Craig Pennel.

Debbie Brient, über-saleswoman, working the crowd.