Kian Berreman & Jack Devlin
Headwaters is a collaboration between Kian Berreman and Jack Devlin, who grew up together in the Sierra Nevada. After years of mutual inspiration, the artists reconnected to advocate for conservation and environmental balance using artistic media through the foundation of The Yuba Project. Similar to how the natural features depicted in these photographs coexist to shape each other, Headwaters is a select collection of the countless images that molded the artists’ relationship and forged their artistic styles. It is also just the beginning of their collaboration focused on protecting the Yuba River Watershed.
The Yuba Project is a storytelling organization expressing the profound energy of the Yuba River Watershed and its relationships through photography and artistic media. We partner with organizations and communities working to foster connection, provide advocacy, and inspire conservation of the watershed. The Yuba Provides life, recreation, and connection to millions of people across Northern California. It is home to diverse and stunning ecosystems, from the granite slabs of the Sierra to the grassy marshes of the California Delta, and for thousands of years has been the Ancestral Homeland of the Nisenan Tribe. Despite its importance and beauty, the Yuba River is a place that has been, and continues to be, deeply impacted by the Anthropocene age. From the collapse of the salmon to the ecocide wrought by California’s Gold Rush, the Yuba has a complex history that continues to evolve just like the river itself. The Yuba Project is a direct response to a deep love for the Yuba River, and we believe that art and storytelling can be incredible tools to educate for the better preservation of this land. Inspired by the Yuba, this art project is a way to give back to our home.
