Artists: Roberto Morales, Laisa Sanchez, Estefania Valencia

Artists: Roberto Morales, Laisa
Sanchez,
Estefania
Valencia,
Shannon Jones, Maria Baca,
Matthew de la O, Judith Castañeda, David de la Cruz, Lisbeth
Miscles, Michelle Perez, Pauline
Martinez, Sinai Sanchez, Angel
Pavia, Alonso Estrada, Luzero
Velasquez,
Adriana
Ortiz,
Sandra Romero.
DESAPARECIDOS
Juan Matias García Zavaleta Otra victima del sueño Americano.
Juan Matias salió el viernes 31 de mayo del pueblo Agua del Espino en Juan
el Estado de Oaxaca en Mexico, con la intension de cumplir un año mas con la tradición que habia heredado de sus abuelos y de su padre de emigrar a los Estados Unidos al Estado de California solo durante los meses de abril hasta septiembre,a recoger la cosecha de uva con el deseo de mejorar la calidad de vida de su familia. Todos los años salian en el mes de abril cuando el clima esta mas fresco, pero en ese año se retardo la salida hastael mes de junio, porque no habian podido conseguir el préstamo para los viaticos del viaje, y para este mes es la estacion de verano y el sol es inclemente.
Por primera vez invito a su hermano Serafin a que lo acompañara en la aventura y fue a él a quien recocomendo la crianza de sus dos hijos cuando moría desidratado en la Ruta del Mar en el Estado de California, quedando aqui truncadosu sueno de continuar con una tradiccion mile-­
naria.
Amaba su tierra y por ello su intencion nunca fue quedarse indocumen-­
tado en los Estados Unidos, solo buscaba una mejor oportunidad de brindarle a su familia un mejor estandar de vida.
Como Juan Matias García hay muchos que han muerto en el camino del desierto en busqueda de aprovechar la oportunidad que la economia imperialista les brinda en este pais para mejorar las condiciones de vida, y que el los paises en desarrollo les es negada.
En el períodico de California se escribió su muerte así:
Junio 1, 2013
Juan Matias García Zavaleta 27
Agua del Espino, Oaxaca.
Died of dehydratation on route to del mar, California with his brother.
The Death of Josseline
We chose to make a memorial for Josseline Quinteros, she was a four-­
teen year old girl who passed away while trying to cross into the U.S. Along the Mexico-­Arizona border. Three weeks after she died in the Ari-­
zona desert, authorities identified the body by her bright green sneak-­
ers, Hollywood sweatpants and the small pearl bracelet around her wrist, which she always wore. Josseline is one of the many tragic deaths while crossing the border. Josselin’s story really impacts us due to the fact that she was very young and more than likely only seeking a better education. The system is so quick to act and make it more difficult to cross. However, they do not think about the fact that many of these im-­
migrants only wish for the same opportunities that we have. In conclu-­
sion what we are hoping to bring attention to is an alternative to these struggles. It should not matter where we come form, we are all equals. Yo escogí pintar a Olga Florinda para nuestra exhibición del día de los muertos porque pienso que era muy bella y no quería que quedara en el olvido, como muchos que nunca se vuelve a saber de ellos. Olga era una ciudadana de Mexico que cruzó a los Estados Unidos por Arivaca, AZ.
Espero que disfruten de la presentación y ojalá que piensen en todas las personas que intentan cruzar todos los días y no llegan.
I chose Maria Cristina. Maria Cristina is a Salvadorian immigrant who was crossing from Brownsville, Texas to Houston, Texas. Maria was 24 years old at the time. Maria represents not only an immigrant but also the hundreds of immigrants who die or disappear crossing the border.
Since the mid 1990’s the number of deaths have doubled. Not only do im-­
Since
migrants die by crossing the Mexico/U.S border, they also die by crossing oceans from countries in Africa to Europe. They also die by crossing coun-­
try to country all over the world. So we dedicate this to the people who have died and gone missing.
I chose to paint a man named Philip Gonzalez. He is 54 years old and was last heard of,January 5, 2005. He was immigrating from Mexico to United States. There is a growing problem with people who try to immigrate from not only Mexico to United States, but other countries as well. I chose to paint an older man rather than someone closer to my age, because this man reminds me of my own father. It really breaks my heart to imagine my own dad struggling at his age to support me and my family. Its hard to know not only that this tragedy is happening to this family, but to millions know
of families all across the world. All just searching for the hope of a better future. Everyone deserves happiness, no one should have to sacrifice their life every time they attempt to achieve a decent home for their loved one's. I hope someday soon things will change and we will no longer have to see a rise in deaths of immigrants, who are all just searching for a better life, like Philip Gonzalez.
I chose Eduardo Felix Gutierrez as the person I wanted to represent in this Day Of The Dead installation. He disappeared on February 29, 2012 cross-­
ing from Nogales, Mexico into Phoenix, Arizona. He was only 20 years old when he disappeared.
The reason I chose Eduardo was because he reminded me a lot of my loved ones that had to cross the U.S -­Mexican border. He not only represents the people that have died or vanished trying to get to this country. He also rep-­
resents many others who died or went missing in other countries looking for opportunity and a chance at a better life.
What I hope to accomplish through the installation is that, after people see my work they will realize how many children, women, young adults, elders and men die, putting their lives at risk to come to this great country as well as others. I hope that people can leave behind the stereotypes of immi-­
grants only being Mexican;; they can also be African, Asian, Canadian, and much more. I also hope people will leave this installation with more knowl-­
edge.
The boy who I chose to make a portrait of is seventeen years old just like me. His name is Elmer Amilcar. I have friends. I go out on the weekends when my parents let me borrow the car;; I go to school, church, and I'm living a typical teenage life, but Elmer Amilcar will not have these same ex-­
periences. Elmer has most likely died in the desert in hopes of having a life similar to mine. Our country forgets that people who aren’t born in our country are also human. As a nation, we have allowed for this boy -­ perhaps a son, a younger brother, or a best friend, -­ to get lost in a dangerous desert.
It's heartbreaking to hear about the 114 people who have died trying to get to Italy by sea from Africa. Like many of the Latinos crossing the border to the U.S., they were just looking to feed their children, escape violence and to have opportunities that their country does not provide for them.
I'm not sure that our world has progressed as much as we would like to be-­
lieve. Maybe we have fancy technology, but we are still leaving the poor in dire conditions while the rich continue to thrive.
Immigration is not just happening in the United States, but all over the world and that hundreds of people are dying due to unfair policies. I hope our exhibit provokes reflection and action about the immigration policies in our country.
My portrait is of a young teen named Mario Alejandro, who left to cross the Mexican/ American border at the age of 15. I specifically chose this in-­
dividual because he heavily reminded me of myself, and being the same age really impacted me. He had a whole life ahead of him, and it saddens me to know that his future was lost in the desert. Mario left his home country for a better opportunity and a better life, and maybe even an edu-­
cation. Most immigrants dream of a better life and are willing to risk their lives for a better one, and the fact that we restrict their presence on our land is inhumane. Considering this is not just a Domestic problem but also an international problem;; immigrants from around the world leave their country for a better chance in a land where they are unwanted and where they must keep their heads down. I believe every human on this planet de-­
serves happiness and contentment, and they shouldn't have to risk their lives in order to achieve such state. I hope one day the nations of the world will come to agreement and let any human of any race, any gender and any religion enter their country for a chance to live a better life, as Mario Alejandro dreamed of. In my painting, I have an immigrant woman named Fermina, and she is holding a picture of her little brother named Omar. He was a young boy. He disappeared crossing the border from Guatemala to the U.S. with his sister, Fermina, and their mom. Ferminda asked why did he have to die. "Did he die from heat? Did he die of thirst? How did he die?" asked Fermi-­
na. Omar's death is still a mystery, but Fermina still misses him. So don't just feel bad about Fermina and Omar, there could be people dying right now trying to cross the border for a better life.
now trying to c
20 years old Jose Luis Acuna communicates with his aunt he said "He was at the last checking point that had to happen." Jose's destination was to the United States, but the last place that they heard from him was when he came to Matamoros Tamaulipas. What could of happened to Jose? This in-­
cident happens to most families if there wife, son, daughter, husband didn't pass, died, killed, or arrested. Obviously he could have died. I just don't understand why immigrants have to stay were they were born. Immigrants aren't bad or evil they want a normal life, a future like us. My big question is "Why are they doing this?" people trying to pass the border is not just happening here, in other countries too. On boats, cars, box cars, even ani-­
mals. I painted him because his personality looks sad, interesting with peace signs might even show something? When people see the exhibit I hope they realize that immigrants are living through horrible issues.
The person I painted is named Rodrigo. He was a 19 years old Mexican and went missing August 22, 2012. The last time his family heard about him was when he was crossing the mountain EL AJO CERCA in Phoenix. Some people say he stayed there because he couldn't continue. A friend of his decided to stay with him and since then they havent heard anything of him and the people that where with him. the story of Rodrigo and those like him makes me feel sad because everyone has the same dream, its just some of us are not born on the right side of the border. It is my hope that some
after people see this show that soon there will be no more death along the border because they will learn nobody is better than anybody else.
En mi pintura yo representé a Carmen Abigail Reyes. Ella todavía no era una mujer complete cuando cruzó la frontera, solo tenía 12 años. La razón por la que la escogí es simple. La mayoría de la gente piensa que los que cruzan la frontera son mexicanos. Carmen no era Mexicana, era Salvador-­
eña. Mi pintura enseña que las personas de centro América y otros paises tambien están cruzando. La última vez que se supo de ella fue cuando estaba cruzando Matamorors, Mexico hacia el area de Brownsville, Texas. Desde el 10 de Junio de 2010 no se ha sabido de ella. Con esta exhibición Desde el 10 de Junio de 2010 no se ha sabido de e
espero que las leyes cambien y todos sean libres. También que la gente se de cuenta de lo que estamos causando.