Icons and Symbols of the Borderland

Wall or no wall? View the US-Mexico borderland saga through the eyes of artists who've lived it. More than 100 artworks represent a variety of mediums, from large paintings to mixed-media collage, neon, photography, and sculpture. Based on a traveling exhibit by members of the El Paso-based JUNTOS Art Association, the images explore the region's animal and plant ecosystems, food and religious culture, and history.

The artists reflect deep roots both north and south of the border and the inherent Mestizaje, a blend of Indigenous, Mexican and American heritage across the length of the bicultural, binational landscape. Their work makes vibrant personal and political statements that speak constructively about how to move forward in this fraught region. Combined with accompanying essays, this book shares a rare, close-up view of the US-Mexico crossroads at a critical point in US history.

About the Author

Diana Molina is a photographer, artist, public speaker, and curator of the traveling exhibition Icons and Symbols of the Borderland. She became creative director for the JUNTOS Art Association in 2012 and broadened its scope to gain wider recognition for border artists and their stories.