Expedition: 22 Miles
On September 17th, 2010, I embarked on an expedition of the Pantano Wash, a dry river that occasionally carries flood water north through the eastern side of Tucson, Arizona. The mission was to walk all 22 miles of the riverbed to gain a better understanding of this strange, timeless space through first-hand experience. Along the way, I created photographic artifacts that mark the end of one mile and the beginning of the next using pinhole cameras, silver gelatin paper, and a portable processing tent. These artifacts serve as evidence of my efforts to establish an intimate relationship with the riverbed in which they were made.
Discarded items were found along the way and cataloged into lists. Along with the photographic artifacts, they offer a contemplative look at many of the unanswered questions that arose regarding the implications of human presence in the wash.
The resulting solo exhibition included the photographic artifacts, a video of their creation, lists of objects found, journal excerpts, the pinhole cameras and processing tent used, and the shoes worn throughout the expedition.
Mile 1
3 shopping carts
1 shoe
1 desk chair
1 half surfboard
Mile 2
6 plastic cups/water bottles
3 shopping carts
2 pot lids
1 red golf ball
1 spatula
1 cinder block
1 dishwasher
1 vacuum cleaner
1 empty Christmas cookie can
1 garbage bag full of teddy bears
Mile 3
4 water bottles
3 shopping carts
2 sleeping bags
1 tent, assembled
1 plastic cup
1 unidentified covered object
1 computer monitor
1 Budweiser can
1 green oil drum
1 basketball
1 mini Jack Daniels bottle
Mile 4
4 shopping carts
3 water bottles
2 beer cans
2 white ceramic plates, broken
1 shoe
1 hub cap
1 tire
1 milk crate
1 red metal lunchbox
1 empty vodka bottle
1 sleeping bag
1 camp site
1 gold leaf-shaped bowl
1 telephone wire
1 bare human footprint
Mile 5
11 shopping carts
4 water bottles
3 beer cans
3 mattresses
3 couches
2 pillows
1 tire
1 bottle grapefruit scented soap
Mile 6
13 beer cans
6 water bottles
6 mattresses
3 shopping carts
2 shirts
2 pairs of pants
1 pair of gym shorts
1 shoe
1 “full-blown” camp site
1 Folgers coffee can
1 shotgun shell
1 rusted car
1 side view mirror
1 tire
1 Family Lawyer study software disc
Mile 7
2 “big-ass” plastic tubes
1 plastic bag full of weeds
1 empty sandbag
Mile 8
2 cinder blocks
1 light pole, formerly standing at about 60 degrees, snapped in a flood
1 inverted car, almost completely buried in dry mud
1 windshield shade
1 picnic bench
1 possible grave site
Mile 9
1 car floor mat
1 large wooden spoon
1 unidentified rusty metal object
1 washing machine top
Mile 10
4 chairs
2 nondescript metal objects
1 motor
1 sewer grate
1 pink blanket
Mile 11
1 party site, 14 beer cans spread outward from fire pit
1 cinder block
1 large metal sheet
1 blue, rusted metal object
1 orange duffel bag
1 truck bumper
1 teddy bear paw
1 shirt
1 plastic pipe
1 rusted metal bucket, unsuitable for pinhole camera
1 gallon jug of what appears to be urine
1 metal rake, no handle
Mile 12
4 unidentified rusty metal objects
3 cinder blocks
1 tire
1 tarp
Mile 13
20 cinder blocks
1 blue rope
1 towel
Mile 14
No access
Mile 15
5 shotgun shells
2 tires
2 water bottles
1 beer can
1 license plate with puzzling slogan: “Real trucks don’t need spark plugs”
1 “No trespassing” sign, facing the opposite direction of our walk
Mile 16
1 plastic tub missing its bottom
1 beer can
1 water bottle
1 shotgun shell
Mile 17
1 child-sized shoe
Mile 18
No items found
Mile 19
No items found
Mile 20
No items found
Mile 21
1 plastic pipe
1 black tarp
1 tire
1 camp site
Mile 22
1 golf ball
