Albuquerque Museum presents Puertas fronterizas / Border Doors, a bilingual exhibition running from October 5, 2024, to May 4, 2025. The exhibition aims to showcase how education fosters understanding and inspires new perspectives.
Since 2014, Claudio Pérez, a Spanish teacher at Sandia Preparatory School, has taken his advanced Spanish-language students to El Paso, Texas. There, they engage with immigrants and advocates at the Cristo Rey Border Immersion Program. Upon returning to Albuquerque, students create illustrated doors that depict the stories of the people they met and reflect on immigration themes at the border. These doors encourage visitors to consider the lived experiences of immigrants within the complex historical relationship between the United States and Mexico.
Doors symbolize entry, access, passage, movement, exit, and escape. Metaphorically, they signify opportunity, uncertainty, hope, change, and transition. Puertas fronterizas / Border Doors is an exhibition of student work from 2019 to 2024 that contemplates symbolic doors as related to the immigrant experience. Unlike physical border walls or fences, these doors demonstrate the passageway of people and their aspirations for a better life.
“The artwork from these students gives us a unique and very personal perspective on immigration,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Showcasing the creative work of local students and educators like this really illustrates the impact of teaching beyond the classroom.”
The mixed-media doors in the exhibition are interpretative collages and paintings addressing five central issues related to immigration: Artificial Intelligence and Immigration; COVID-19 and Essential Workers; Kids in Cages; Family Separation; and Superheroes and Immigration. The latter highlights victims of the 2019 El Paso Walmart mass shooting.
Curator Alicia Romero stated: “Just as Puertas fronterizas / Border Doors seeks to dissolve misconceptions, dispel stereotypes, and promote empathy, the exhibition showcases how cultural exchange can spark artistic creativity, political awareness, and community engagement. It sows seeds of positive change among young people on their way to becoming local and national leaders.”
Artists participating in this project include HiiLani Alderete; Ajmain Ashraf; Hasnain Ashraf; Mohammed Assed; Daniela Baca; Benjamin Bartlett; Luke Bemish; Jack Bilan; Patrick Blewett; Charlotte Clark-Slakey; Stephen Emeanuwa; Kaden Epstein; Javin Felipe; Jayne Clifton Fife; Alexandria Forrester; Ava Garcia-Wesley; Jacob Gutiérrez; Caden Hallenbeck; Gillian Hoffman; Dylan Holtrop; Lillian King; Cedar McCall; Rowan McJimsey; Robert McWilliams; Jacob Montoya; Mary Montoya; Trina Nguyen; Sonia Patel; Carlos Pérez ; Michael Pratt ; Kiki Rodríguez ; Emily Sanchez ; Julia Silva ; Lauren Staples ; Jaxon Tregembo.
This exhibition was curated by Albuquerque Museum in collaboration with Claudio Pérez of Sandia Preparatory School.
It is made possible in part by the Albuquerque Museum Foundation.