Trump Border Wall Section 2
Someone bulldozed the first section of Donald Trump's border wall. So the artists went back to Jacumba and built the second section. This one is made from ropes, old ladders, cinder blocks, and the “booties” found on site which Mexicans use when crossing over to the US so the border patrol can’t follow their footprints.
The text on the US side says, “Were we nice?” and refers to the US's treatment of Mexico and South America throughout history. The text on the side facing Mexico says, “Are you nice?” This reflects on Trump’s supposed vetting process. He claims he is going to deport 11 million Mexicans, yet let the "good ones back in.” The boxes symbolize customs forms.
Of course, the text art also comments on the fact that bulldozing the first border wall was not very nice.
“Two weeks ago, David Gleeson and Mary Mihelic travelled to Jacumba Hot Springs, California to install a section of Donald Trump’s wall along the Mexican border. Using ropes, ladders and shoes that they found nearby, they created a poignant piece inspired by the presidential candidate’s controversial immigration plan…”
The Economist
A shrine to immigrants.
On the other side of the border fence in Mexico — on the hillside – is a small white building. This is a shrine the Mexicans built honoring immigrants. The art is white to honor that.
Raking the dirt.
The tires in the artwork symbolize how the US rakes the dirt in front of the existing fence — the Border Patrol pulls old tires behind a Jeep to smooth the dirt path in front of the existing border wall. This makes it easier to see footprints if anyone jumps over the wall. Only the Mexicans make booties from old blankets and tie them over their shoes to hide their tracks. Then they discard the booties. The booties and tires allude to that.
The details.
The white cinderblocks allude to detention centers. All the booties were found on the site.
Sending El Chapo an RFP.
Playing on the ironies of US/Mexico relations at all levels, the artists mailed El Chapo a letter requesting protection for the new wall.
