Xhnisa is a work inspired by water, and its name is based on a poem of the same name that I wrote in the Central Valley dialect of the Zapotec language. For millennia, water has been the essence of life. It can be serene and still, like a tranquil lake reflecting an image of the sky, or powerful and relentless, like a roaring river carving through a canyon. As an American with Indigenous and Latino roots, my connection to water is both spiritual and cultural, and my connection has inspired this piece and a poem of the same name. The versatility and beauty of water have inspired countless art forms and cultures, and they have undoubtedly inspired me.

Through this work, I sought to capture various moods, each influenced by my upbringing in California. These include taking a ferry to Catalina Island, experiencing Disneyland’s World of Color — which I affectionately call las aguas bailarinas (Spanish for “dancing waters”) — running along the shore in Newport Beach, and drinking Peñafiel, a renowned brand of Mexican sparkling mineral water. These experiences offer a glimpse into how I perceive water — simple, complex, foamy, wavy, and sparkling.