Theme Borders — Undocumented Student Equity Project

Borders: Bajo Las Misas Estrellas

Curated by Katherine, Jackie, Kitana

A significant aspect of immigration would be the significant role of borders, which really impacts the understanding of these different experiences. Art can challenge the notion of borders by questioning their legitimacy and exploring their impact on individuals and communities. The theme on borders was aimed to highlight the fluidity of borders, how they can be crossed, transcended, or even erased. The creation of the panel made us reconsider the ways in which borders shape our understanding of belonging and exclusion. Each individual’s sentiment through each side of the border may vary, depending on their relationship to their homeland and of their fixed location. Within this panel, the overarching theme was to explore the nuanced complexities of migrant’s experiences with the concept of border and how it affects their perception of boundaries.

A landscape was created to show the Mexico side and a U.S. side that signifies the physical border. The night sky and the day sky are parallels to one another. Each side contains art and poems by students and participants. They comment and discuss t

The left side of the panel exemplifies the city-like features throughout different parts of the United States. It demonstrates the idea of “the American dream” with such tall buildings and lots of opportunities for social climbing. Yet, even within

The footsteps indicate the physical movement and mobility that individuals have when it comes to the border. People that pass by the border are entering and exiting both countries simultaneous.They are a parallel of direction that goes forward and b

Showcasing the photographs from a Zine of the border by Baruck through an artistic expression, we hope that it challenged the rigid definitions of geographical borders. These images are taken from Tijuana, overlooking San Diego.

With the theme of “Abajo El Mismo Cielo,” the sun signifies the interconnectedness of both communities on each side of the border. As it sits on the U.S. side of the panel, it represents transcending arbitrary divisions and emphasizing that the warm

Tying into the theme of “Abajo El Mismo Cielo,” the moon exemplifies the unification of two both. Despite it being just on the Mexico side of the panel, its presence is still seen on both sides of a border, exemplifying how humanity is connected thr

The collages make up the figure of a pyramid, a notion similar to the Teotihuacan Pyramids that were created by indigenous and native people to the land of Mexico. It signifies the richness of culture and history within Mexico land, which is a perce

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The side of Mexico has architectural homes that are visible and memorable to those that visit. When thinking of Mexico, we created a landscape that has color and greenery. The homes contain poems of students that have faced and resonated with their

Borders: A Home Divided

Curated by Breana, Jackie, and Aransa

The panel of borders starts off by featuring photographs of the Tijuana-San Diego border taken by one of our collaborators in ODA, Baruck, alongside excerpts from students’ poems forming a tejido. These excerpts explore the idea that border is more than just a physical divide-it is an emotional, cultural and psychological boundary that shapes identity. The imagery captures the stark reality of the border while the poetry gives voice to the lived experiences of immigration-impacted individuals. These short stories are tied together into a collective tapestry. Tejidos, meaning “weavings,” symbolizes the interconnectedness of struggles and hopes tied to crossing, resisting, and redefining boundaries. Through this fusion of visuals and written expressions, the panel demonstrates a longing for less restrictive borders.

On either side of the border are black shelves with photos and symbols representing ideas of “home” that resemble aspects we would see in a house. This is a visual representation of how borders create division within a home. On either side of the border, people hold reminders of the lives they left behind after migrating. It is also representative of the resilience within immigrant families and communities. Maintaining transnational connections, through culture, life, and love, is a form of resistance to the restrictive nature of immigration policy.

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