Guadalupe Navarro, El Rio, 2019
Copper and brass; 8″ x 18″ x 18″
Photo courtesy of the artist.
Artist Statement:
Recently, it has become a trend for people to learn more about their genealogy. I’ve heard many stories from those of European-descent about how older generations made their move to the United States from their origin countries. These stories are passed down from generation to generation and can be tracked down through genealogy records. The stories of Mexican immigrants are not as straight forward and in many cases, may not be recorded at all. I am shedding light on the journeys of these immigrants, examining how they became legal residents of the United States or how they still live as an illegal immigrants. These are the immigration stories I grew up with. I have depicted these narratives through Metalsmithing to give a glimpse into the journeys of Mexican immigrants today. Though they may differ from traditional stories of European immigration, the common ground they share is immigrating to the United States with the hope of creating a better life for themselves and their families.