Growing up in San Diego, you will likely find yourself meandering down Del Dios at some point whether it be for fun or to avoid some kind of traffic. At one end of Del Dios, you’re in Escondido. At the other end, you’re in Rancho Santa Fe one of the wealthiest communities in America. As you continue down the S8, there’s a lot of parts of Rancho Santa Fe that are just long stretches of tall hedges and walls along the road. 

Along this corridors there’s a foreboding feeling that you are not welcome to do anything but drive through and mind your own business. Even as you pass some public spaces like malls and parks, it’s all hidden behind hedges and walls so unless you knew those spaces were there… you wouldn’t know they were there. For most people who aren’t part of the community of Rancho Santa Fe, or visiting, the whole area is hedges and walls with passing glimpses of horse stables and golf courses.

Sometimes it feels like a lot of things in my life have becoming increasingly shielded behind tall hedges and walls. A lot of them are pretty important things like decent healthcare, housing, education, healthy food, heck even concert tickets. I am only welcome to drive through, never being welcomed inside. I know there’s a world behind those hedges, but it’s closed off to me more and more every day. I can only imagine what’s back there from the car, on my way to work, trying to avoid traffic. 

If you are interested in purchasing a print of “The Hedges”, click here.