Photographs by Sandra MIchaud
About 40 people attended the reception for photographer Don Bartletti at the McCray Gallery Friday evening. The exhibit is part of the “Borders. Past, Present and Future” show, one of the features of the Southwest Festival of the Printed Word. Bartlletti’s introduction to the exhibit said, “Over a period of three months I rode 12 freight trains for 900 miles in Mexico. I crossed rivers at both ends of the country. I was threatened with a machete by a Mara Salvatrucha gangster in southern Mexico. I was robbed of all my gear in central Mexico. I shot about 300 rolls of color film…”
Bartletti spoke briefly of his experiences at the reception before giving a presentation at the Global Resource Center.
Also being shown were poetry flags created by Serena Murrillos eighth grade class at Snell Middle School. Former Silver City Elise Stuart taught a once a week poetry workshop at the school where they created the poem flags.
Don Bartletti and Peter Riva
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Mayor Ken Ladner welcomes the reception attendees
Local artist Paul Hotvedt introduces Don Barletti
Some of the people attending the reception
another poem flag
Another poem about the border
Jesse Childs and Tigist Geda
“Bound to El Norte: Each year in the vast migration to the U.S.A. thousands of migrant like this Honduran boy stowaway through Mexico on the tops and sides of trains….”
“Misery’s Company: Vultures and children compete for scraps at the Tegucigalpa landfill. Juan Flores… and a younger companion scavenge for anything to eat or sell….”
Marty Eberhardt and former Poet Laureate Elise Stuart discuss the exhibit
“Market Boy: Elio Trujillo Martinez, 13, pushes his handmade wheelbarrow with a shopper’s groceries. The sixth grader works for tip in the …market…he says his father died and his earning help support the family.”
“Running for Cover: Young Hondurans run for cover …at an immigration checkpoint in Chiapas, Mexico…”
“Watching for La Migra Mexicana: Juan Joel DeJesus Villreal, 15, and two Honduran companions hide from Mexican immigration authorities who patrol the railroad yard…. Juan wants to find his 18-year-old brother in Miami.”
“Morning Train: After an all night ride, Denis Evan Contrarez, 12, awakens as his train moves through the steamy countryside…. A few days ago Denis was arrested… and deported. ‘This time,’ he said, ‘I’ll run a different way.’”
“Mexican Countryside: Honduran and Guatemalan teenagers scan the countryside in the Mexican state of Veracruz as their train crosses the Coatzacoalcos river…”
“Mexican Countryside: Honduran and Guatemalan teenagers scan the countryside in the Mexican state of Veracruz as their train crosses the Coatzacoalcos river…”
“Enrique’s Dream Come True: Enrique’s journey ends in North Carolina with a reunion at his mother’s trailer. When he was five, Lourdes left him with his grandparents…. At 17 Enrique left…for a torturous 4-month-long struggle through the length of Mexico.”
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Tom Hester and JJ Wilson