Art activist. Documenting the migrant crisis at the wall.
At the Border
One Landscape Divided
“As a son of immigrant parents from Mexico, I am captivated by Laurie’s tribute to all those who have struggled to better the lives of their loved ones. Her work transcends the stereotypical unwelcome view of illegal immigrants by asking the viewer to reflect on the true meaning of survival and to ask the question, “What am I willing to do for my future and the future of those I love?" Her images conquer the heart with feelings of empathy for the underprivileged. As you walk through the exhibition, Laurie tells you a story of struggle, pain, survival, faith, and ultimately, the pursuit of happiness known to the Mexican community as El Sueño Americano.”
— Luis Gutierrez, student in the University of Colorado Master of Architecture program
After viewing Border Wall–One Landscape Divided exhibition at The College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado Denver
Growing up in the borderlands of El Paso and Juarez, I have a deeply rooted bi-cultural identity and perspective on the immigration crisis where Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico meet. While critical issues of immigration are a global phenomenon, especially along the 2000-mile stretch of the U.S. – Mexico border, my focus is on a microcosm of the story where one landscape is now divided.
Why I take these photographs.
• To give a face to the cost of the unrelenting migrant crisis, showcasing the tangled reality of what I witness on both sides of the border.
• To share the experience of the wall up close, to bring to light the moral and social divisiveness occurring right now.
• To inspire people to explore the symbolic, sociocultural, racial, humanitarian, and environmental impacts of the immigration situation.
• To spark bipartisan dialog about legal, fact-based solutions as all sides seem to be obscuring the truth.