Salt of the Earth is a striking monograph which skillfully captures humanity’s impact on the environment. From ground-level perspectives to aerial shots, Barbara Boissevain’s unique compositions of industrial salt ponds, accentuate the surreal qualities of landscapes altered by human activity. The artist’s intention extends beyond crafting captivating visuals; her work seeks to raise awareness of pressing environmental concerns and inspire engagement in conservation- related activism. Boissevain’s photographs of otherworldly landscapes compel us to reflect on the delicate balance between creation and devastation. Her powerful imagery challenges viewers to reassess their role in shaping Earth’s future, ultimately urging us to confront the consequences of our actions and actively participate in preserving the environment for generations to come.
Twenty years ago, in the South Bay region of San Francisco, the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project was established to address the impact of human activity on the diminished marshes of the Bay and the role wetlands play in protecting vulnerable communities from sea level rise. This expansive environmental project is the largest tidal wetland restoration project on the West Coast and is dedicated to converting over 15,000 acres of commercial salt ponds at the south end of San Francisco Bay to a mix of tidal marsh, mudflat, and other wetland habitats.
Since the 1800s, the ecosystems of the tidal marshes have been replaced by salt ponds, and in her new book, Salt of the Earth: A Visual Odyssey of a Transforming Landscape (Kehrer), California-based photographer Barbara Boissevain documents the efforts being made to return these spaces to their natural state. She thinks of her book, which explores the nexus of art, science and environmental activism, as a “love letter” to the San Francisco Bay where she grew up and raised her two daughters.
Barbara Boissevain : Salt of the Earth
A Visual Odyssey of a Transforming Landscape
Published by Kehrer Verlag
Texts by John Hart, Laura Noble, Michael Honneger, and Dr. Elliott White Jr.
Design by Bob Aufuldish, Aufuldish & Warinner
Hardcover
30″ x 24″
108 pages
ISBN: 978-3-96900-125-7
€44 / $54
