Spanish Salt is a photography journalism project intended to document Spanish Fork's proud heritage of farming and ranching. Professional gallery artist Sean Diediker will chronicle those generational families who are proud to work the land with their own hands and continue to pass this mantle onto their children.    

 

Many of Southern Utah County's families have been working the land for sometimes 4 or 5 generations. Farming and ranching is more often hard work, long nights and early mornings, and work that is often under-appreciated. Increasingly, less and less young millennials are choosing the career path of their family heritage. With 2018's current frenzy of retail, commercial and subdivision development, Spanish Salt aims to celebrate those families who do not sell.   

 

Sean Diediker says: “I’ve lived in Spanish Fork for 20 years, and it has become the place I call home. Although I didn’t grow up here, I want to document those that were here long before the Walmart’s and fast food chains. Those who can’t recall the original color of their boots. Those who take pride in growing on their own land and successfully pass that mantle on to their children. Those that simply won’t sell.”   

 

The photographs are intended to be displayed at an art exhibition in 2019. Each photograph will be accompanies by a short essay by writer Jessica Crandall. Jessica was raised in Woodland Hills and has a family ancestry ties living in Spanish Fork, Utah.  Jessica says about Sean’s Art: “A lot of Sean’s work focus on exploring the human connection.  Spanish Salt aims to acknowledge the real salt of the earth people that make our community, home.”