Gallery of Design University of Wisconsin - Madison
October 11th - November 9th, 2008
In this exhibition, my pieces and the gallery space become a public ofrenda, or altar. This ofrenda is a physical manifestation of my wish or desire for healing for myself and our world community. With objects and interaction, I create a place of reflection of difficult questions and memories of those things that are important in life.
Ausencia, is an installation addressing the deep sense of loss felt by Mexican families whose children have crossed the border to the U.S. Because of the danger and cost, most who cross undocumented do not return to see their families. There are tens of thousands of families in the poorest parts of Mexico who have not seen their children in many years.The pain of having lost their children is evident in their eyes and their words.
The installation includes audio recordings of the voices of the families left behind in Oaxaca and the English translations of their words.
Each cord in this installation represents one individual from a small indigenous village, near the city of Oaxaca. Those on the ground signify those who have stayed, and those that are raised, represent the people who are gone. In one village I often visit, of the 2800 residents, 1300 have left for the U.S.
"I have 3 sons in the US. One that I have not seen in many years. He has been gone for 13 years. He left when he was twenty two years old"
"Minimum wage in Mexico is $4.50 per day. We can charge a little more because we make higher quality work."
"We are just the four of us, my sister, my parents and me but the three of them are in the US. Since they left four years ago, they haven’t come back at all. "
"They have to accept how it is there because there is not much work here. One has to endure, there is no other way."
"And when they go, they stay for a very long time…. while their children grow up. "
To see more images of Cascada and Tres Telas, click here
The project Aucensia has become a community project and would not have been possible without the time and energy of many people both here in Madison and in Oaxaca Mexico. Gracias to everyone who helped. It was a pleasure to work with you!
Transcriptions: Janet Chavez Santiago
Translations: Carolyn Kallenborn and Janet Chavez Santiago
Thank you to:
In Oaxaca:
Many individuals in the city of Oaxaca and in the villages
And most importatly - the families who shared their stories and inspired the project. I hope that through this project many people can hear their stories.
In Madison and elsewhere in the States:
Rock Tying And Installation
Rita Gahagen
Chris David
Diane Hughes
Julie Moehn
Simone Schweber
Kimber (Simone's friend)
Leslee Nelson
Lynne Duguid
Terry Dobbs
Jesse Markow
Bev Gordon
Steve Vedro
Lisa Frank
Mark Nelson
Debbie Nelson
Leslie Nelson
Suzanne Bergen
Bernie Kallenborn
Jesse Sandler
Waverly Liu
Margaret Barber
Laura Jefferson
Others
Richard Anderson
Rhea Vedro
Jody Clowes
John Hilgers
The Graduate School of UW Madison for project funding
