Artist Statement
Romero's statement on Social Media.
Direct from the artist: January 25, 2025
“This image "Devil's Claw No.1" combines the basket weaving material central to Chemehuevi culture into a futuristic space with an anthropomorphic female deity that carries the devil's claw properties. This combination of plants and humans shows up often in Chemehuevi mythos, although this character is fictional and played by the one and only Naomi Whitehorse. [...] The ball of devil's claw hooked together is colloquially called a "hat."
Devil's claw, the plant that inspired this photograph, grows in the desert regions of the southwest and is highly drought tolerant. The sprawling plants initially grow delicate pink flowers that turn into hook-shaped green pods. As the pods dry, they split into dark brown woody halves in the shape of claws. Devil's claw is most well known for its deep brown color that is often used to create designs in Chemehuevi and other basket weaving. These edible seeds also have medicinal purposes for treating headaches. (They taste a little like popcorn to me).”