Worth Sharing

WS

Stories That Matter

California Professors Place Seesaws Across US-Mexico Border So Children Can Play Together

California Professors Place Seesaws Across US-Mexico Border So Children Can Play Together
This powerful new installation is being used as a recreational bridge between the children and adults on the US-Mexico border.

Two California college professors have just finished installing a powerful new architectural addition to the US-Mexico borderwall.

Professors Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello traveled to Sunland Park, New Mexico this week in order to build a "Teeter-Totter Wall" into the slatted border fence separating the city from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.

The set of seesaws allow children and adults from both sides of the fence to play together—all while still being on their own respective sides of the border.

Rael and Fratello first got the idea for their international play structure back in 2009. After they succeeded in conceptualizing the idea into a book, the Teeter-Totter Wall finally came to fruition this week—and "with no advance planning for participants on the Mexico side of the fence, this unifying act took place," wrote the University of California, where Rael teaches, in a statement.

"One of the most incredible experiences of my and Virginia San Fratello's career [is] bringing to life the conceptual drawings of the Teeter-Totter Wall from 2009 in an event filled with joy, excitement, and togetherness at the borderwall," said Rael in an Instagram post.

"The wall became a literal fulcrum for US-Mexico relations and 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," he added.

View this post on Instagram

One of the most incredible experiences of my and @vasfsf’s career bringing to life the conceptual drawings of the Teetertotter Wall from 2009 in an event filled with joy, excitement, and togetherness at the borderwall. The wall became a literal fulcrum for U.S. - Mexico relations and 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. Amazing thanks to everyone who made this event possible like Omar Rios @colectivo.chopeke for collaborating with us, the guys at Taller Herrería in #CiudadJuarez for their fine craftsmanship, @anateresafernandez for encouragement and support, and everyone who showed up on both sides including the beautiful families from Colonia Anapra, and @kerrydoyle2010, @kateggreen , @ersela_kripa , @stphn_mllr , @wakawaffles, Chris Gauthier and many others (you know who you are). #raelsanfratello #borderwallasarchitecture

A post shared by Ronald Rael (@rrael) on

One of the most incredible experiences of my and @vasfsf's career bringing to life the conceptual drawings of the Teetertotter Wall from 2009 in an event filled with joy, excitement, and togetherness at the borderwall. The wall became a literal fulcrum for U.S. - Mexico relations and 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. Amazing thanks to everyone who made this event possible like Omar Rios @colectivo.chopeke for collaborating with us, the guys at Taller Herrería in #CiudadJuarez for their fine craftsmanship, @anateresafernandez for encouragement and support, and everyone who showed up on both sides including the beautiful families from Colonia Anapra, and @kerrydoyle2010, @kateggreen , @ersela_kripa , @stphn_mllr , @wakawaffles, Chris Gauthier and many others (you know who you are). #raelsanfratello #borderwallasarchitecture

A post shared by Ronald Rael (@rrael) on Jul 28, 2019 at 11:22pm PDT

Build Some Positivity Amongst Your Friends By Sharing The News To Social Media…

About author

Be the first to comment

Leave a Comment