Hostile Terrain 94 at Grinnell College – Page 2 – An art + anthropology exhibit highlighting the violence of immigration policies on undocumented migrants crossing at the southern border & in our local Iowa communities (on display in Bucksbaum until the end of April 2025)

Installation Update #4

On October 4, 2024

This past Wednesday and Thursday we hosted three toe tag-filling workshops and posted the rest of the grid squares onto the installation. We also began pinning a number of the completed toe tags along the sticker representing the U.S.-Mexico border.

Prof. Xavi Escandell leading a late night toe tag-filling workshop.

Students and faculty filling out toe tags at the late night workshop.

Liz, Luis, and Jorge Salinas pinning toe tags onto the installation at Bucksbaum after the SOL workshop.

Adella, Julia, Kyle, and Jorge posting grid squares on the installation.

Toe tag-filling workshop in Bucksbaum.

Installation Update #3

By Laura Ng

On September 26, 2024

In Uncategorized

A group of students and professors began to tape grid squares to the exhibit wall, which will help with the future placement of geolocated toe tags that show the exact location where the remains of deceased migrants were found.

Prof. Xavi Escandell and Anthropology Department student worker Da Hye aligning grid squares.

Grid squares along the U.S.-Mexico border have been place. Most of the toe tags will go at the bottom showing the geography of violent U.S. border policy. Students from left to right: Avajane, Jorge, Da Hye, and Kyle.

Student volunteer Julia (left) leading an impromptu toe tag workshop at Bucksbaum.

Video showing the first 6 toe tags being placed on the exhibit wall.

Installation Update #2

By Laura Ng

On September 19, 2024

In Uncategorized

Student volunteers helped to put the vinyl stickers that make up the U.S.-Mexico border near the Sonoran Desert, the names of cities in Arizona, and a map scale. Video courtesy of Judd B.

Stickers representing the border wall, scale, and Arizona city names. A laser was used to ensure all of the stickers were level.

Installation Update #1

By Laura Ng

On September 14, 2024

In Uncategorized

Paul H. installing the frame for the exhibit

The completed frame and 1/2″ x 7.5′ x 16′ foam core board wall.

A close-up of what the Hostile Terrain 94 Exhibit wall will look like when the vinyl stickers of the border wall and all 3000+ toe tags are filled out by volunteers at Grinnell College and the wider Grinnell community.