The Course of Water

'The Course of Water' explores the environmental and social histories of California’s Owens Valley by attending to the implications of its peculiar hydrology. At the turn of the twentieth century, a lack of water resources threatened to stall the growth of Los Angeles. The city began diverting water from the Owens River, which led to the eventual desiccation of Owens Lake and much of the surrounding valley. Todd Stewart (US) pairs his photographs of the region with select archival images, creating a complex visual map that the writing and notes of Robert Bailey (US) further deepen. If water is life, then 'The Course of Water' shows what happens when life is deferred.