The Albuquerque Museum has proudly announced the acquisition of an award-winning pink teeter-totter previously installed at the U.S./Mexico border wall. The teeter-totter, a symbol of connection among citizens of both nations and societal change, has found a new home in the museum's permanent collection exhibition, Common Ground, which celebrates the artistic and cultural achievements of the U.S. Southwest.
Albuquerque Museum director, Andrew Connors, expressed the museum's enthusiasm, stating, "The Teeter-Totter shook the world with its installation along the U.S./Mexico border wall, and we are honored to elevate that piece of international history at our museum." He further highlighted the significance of having such a piece amidst discussions of immigration in the state.
The brightly colored teeter-totters, originally placed at the border between Sunland Park, New Mexico, and Ciudad Juárez, allowed children from both sides to play together, symbolically bridging the divide created by the border wall. Reflecting on the impact of the installation, the creators Rael and San Fratello shared in a social media post from 2019, "Children and adults were connected in meaningful ways on both sides, with the recognition that the actions that take place on one side have a direct consequence on the other side."
The presence of this symbolic artwork in the Albuquerque Museum serves as a reminder of the power of art to transcend boundaries and foster connections between communities, embodying the spirit of unity and understanding across borders.
