BORDER DYNAMICS

The Student Union Memorial Center will be the focus of an art show of international proportions. “Border Dynamics” will be unveiled on the mall, near the opening of the canyon, on September 22. This series of four sculptures—each weighing 900 pounds and reaching 14 feet in height—are here as the opening of a national tour. The pieces were commissioned by Beyond Borders National Art Foundation, a Tucson based nonprofit organization which is dedicated to raising the profile of border issues. The sculptures were first displayed on the Mexico side of the border, near Nogales, Sonora.

Chrissy Lieberman, Campus Activities and Union Galleries Coordintator, was instrumental in getting the sculptures to the University of Arizona. She, along with a task force of administrators from the University took a trip to Nogales to view the pieces and plan for their installation. Chrissy will be very involved in the campus festivities when the show opens.

The engineering involved in installing “Border Dynamics” is as interesting as the sculptures. According to Dave Parker, Associate Director for Facilities and Operations, the sculptures and wall are mounted and anchored by drilling holes in the concrete side walk, inserting taps and then screwing the anchor bolts into the taps. This is the first time the exhibit has been erected in this fashion.

UA President Peter Likins, and Socorro Carrizosa, Associate Director of Multicultural Programs and Services will headline the ceremony on the UA Mall, 5:30 pm, September 22. Artists Alberto Morackis and Guadalupe Serrano will be featured.

The Gallagher Theater will show the award winning movie, “Gatekeeper,” at 7:30 pm that evening. This movie depicts the struggles of illegal immigrants on the US/Mexico border, and those who work to keep them out. Director, John Fey, will make comments and answer questions following the movie.

This exhibition is made possible by the collaboration between the:
Arizona Student Unions
Union Gallery
Chicano/Hispano Student Affairs
UA BookStores
College of Humanities
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
President's Office
Facilities Management
Department of Multicultural Programs and Services
Multicultural Leadership Center
The BOARD Diversity Initiatives
Faculty/Student Interaction Grant
Wells Fargo Bank

For information regarding the Student Union Gallery, contact Chrissy Lieberman, Student Union Memorial Center. 520-621-8046.