Various
¿Ya Llegamos? is reflective of the immigration experience felt by those crossing the US/Mexico border. Countless lives, young and old, are lost to the unforgiving desert. This work alludes to the loss of a child while immigrating.
A pair of infant shoes are left at the base of cactus. They are in good condition, meaning they were left because the child no longer needed them. The only reason an infant would no longer need them in such a harsh environment is if the child has passed away. A family’s decision to make this treacherous journey despite their child’s vulnerability is a testament to the desperation that family is facing. The people that attempt to cross the desert have been left with no other choice.
This sculpture recognizes those families. There are two main growths from the base cactus pad. One growth has larger pads which lean slightly over the smaller set. This visual layout mimics a guardian figure over a child. The guardian must be resilient and durable to protect the child. Steel is both resilient and durable. In this case, those properties are being used to protect the child. But it is also the material used in border fencing, so depending on the application, steel can be used to help or harm others. ¿Ya Llegamos? captures this duality and asks the viewer “are we there yet”.