PULLMAN, Wash. – The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Washington State University is hosting a new exhibition that seeks to raise awareness about the realities of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Beginning Tuesday, Jan. 17, “Hostile Terrain 94” (HT94) is a participatory exhibition where volunteers can record the names (when known), age, sex, cause of death, condition of body, and location of recovery on toe tags of people who lost their lives while trying to cross the U.S. border.
The installation will be completed with the community’s help over spring semester culminating March 2, when HT94 founder and anthropologist Jason De León visits the WSU Pullman campus for a series of programs and events. Programming for HT94 can be found at the Office of the Provost’s website, including a form to fill out for those interested in volunteering.
The exhibition was created by the Undocumented Migration Project (UMP) to bring attention to the deaths that have occurred since 1994 as a result of the Border Patrol policy known as “Prevention Through Deterrence” (PTD).
The physical act of writing out the names and information for the dead invites participants to reflect, witness, and stand in solidarity with those who have lost their lives and their surviving communities.
The exhibition also opens opportunities to engage in active conversations related to ongoing migrant rights issues and other intersecting topics through collaborative programs with community partners.
Mental health information and crisis resources will be available at each workshop for participants. A subject matter expert on race, culture, immigration, and equity will be in attendance.
Programming for HT94 is brought to the WSU Pullman campus in partnership with the Office of the Provost; the Center for Arts & Humanities; and the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU. Funding for this exhibition is provided by the Samuel H. and Patricia W. Smith Endowment and members of the museum.
LOCATION | The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU is located in the Crimson Cube (on Wilson Road across from Martin Stadium and the CUB) on the WSU Pullman campus. For more information, please visit museum.wsu.edu/about.
Media Contacts
- Debby Stinson, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art WSU, debby_stinson@wsu.edu
