The Mesquite Mile is a multi-phase project that aims to relocate regionally historic mesquites from commercial agricultural land (where they are routinely removed) to Lubbock’s urban core. The project utilizes art as a tool to create a drought resistant shade canopy and public food forest—converting lawns and surplus space into interconnected rainwater harvesting earthworks that reimagine the narrative of this vital keystone species.
Travis Neel is an artist, educator, and serial collaborator. Neel holds an MFA in Art and Social Practice from Portland State University and a BFA from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Neel is an Assistant Professor of Art at Texas Tech University.
Neel’s collaborative work has been featured in the Agitprop! exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum; The Time Based Arts Festival at the Portland Institute of Contemporary Art, The Northwest Biennial at the Tacoma Art Museum; and numerous DIY and public spaces across the United States.