New Histories:
Gadsden Farm Project
In Collaboration with Michael Diaz
Gadsden County was once home to Florida’s most thriving agricultural economy. One of only two places in America suitable for growing shade tobacco. In 1946 Gadsden County bolstered a $100,000,000.00 industry. However, it is now one of the poorest counties in the state of Florida.
New Histories: The Gadsden Farm Project is a socially engaged art project that explores the agricultural stories of 12 people from Gadsden County. Working with a team from the State of Florida Archives, we were able to build relationships with over a dozen farmers, including first generation immigrants, fourth generation shade tobacco farmers, livestock farmers, organic vegetable growers, and an elder whose family owns large acreages of longleaf pines.
The installation includes a custom designed dinner table with embedded speakers that play excerpts from conversations, as well as a cross section of a greenhouse with an adobe floor that houses video monitors playing recordings of farmer interviews.
The archive of the project is presented through a series of photographs, audio interviews, video recordings, and hand-made ceramic plates, and represents the living history of Gadsden County agriculture and the relationships forged between all of the collaborative partners.
Photographs
Fostering Community
