Living in Limbo captures the indecision many face, but what sets McLaughlin’s portraits apart, is the essence of hope detailed in the eyes and faces of those pictured.Ĭommunity Engagement Organizer, Kim Mccoy, who has worked at the gallery for eleven years, said she chooses exhibitions that feature important and timely subjects in a variety of mediums from local to international artists. Despite the danger, many people feel they have no other choice. Often, they are overtaken by the tides, fog, or strict US guard. Many try to paddle their way around the wall dividing Mexico and the US, but most do not make it to the other side. They were faced with three options: to turn back, to wait, or swim around the border wall. Many families had traveled far but were left with nowhere to go. Connecting with families and individuals along the border, McLaughlin learned of the struggles facing those struck by the harshened immigration laws. Once in Tijuana, McLaughlin worked with BorderAngels, a non-profit organization that works on migrants’ rights along the border. McLaughlin wished to capture real photos that held emotion and understanding, rather than ones that told an obscured story: painting migrants out to be criminals and intensifying stereotypes. McLaughlin left his home in Chenango County and traveled to the border after learning about the death of Martínez Ramírez and his 23-month-old daughter, Valeria, who drowned together while trying to cross the Río Grande. This US policy is also known as The Remain in Mexico policy, in which the US government returned asylum-seekers to Mexico to wait through the duration of their immigration cases – leaving many stranded for months or even years. The artist Bill McLaughlin traveled to the border and spent weeks with those affected by the 2019 change in US policy learning their stories and taking their portraits. The collection of over 20 photos displays the struggles and dreams of migrants in Tijuana, Mexico. Artrage’s newest exhibition, Living in Limbo: Portraits from the Border, embodies the hope and fear of every immigrant seeking asylum.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |