Trainers for border crossers
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Judi Werthein has designed a special "crossing trainer" to help illegal immigrants cross the border from Mexico to the US. The shoes are named Brincos for the Spanish verb "brincar," which means "to jump" —as in, across the border. They includes a compass, a flashlight because people cross at night. The pocket in the tongue hides money or some Tylenol painkillers because many people get injured during crossing.
Illegal immigrants' primary mode of transportation is their feet. "If they go through the sierra, they walk eight hours. Their feet get hurt. There's a lot of stones and there are snakes, tarantulas. So that's why it is a little boot," Werthein says. The Brinco is an ankle-high trainer which is green, red, and white - the colors of the Mexican flag. An Aztec eagle is embroidered on the heel. On the toe is the American eagle found on the US quarter, to represent the American dream the migrants are chasing. And on the back ankle, a drawing of Mexico's patron saint of migrants. A map - printed on the shoe's removable insole - shows the most popular illegal routes from Tijuana into San Diego. The artist first passed out trainers for free to migrants, then sold limited edition of them at a hip store in San Diego for $215.
Only 1,000 pairs of the sneakers have been manufactured — in China, for $17 each to underscore the tensions sparked by the global spread and mobility of the maquiladora. Part of the InSite_05 commissions. See also Tijuana Calling. Judi Werthein will be at the Americas Society on Thursday, February 23 for VIS-À-VIS: Dialogues between artists and curators from the Western Hemisphere. (via e-flux.) Background information from BBC news, Washington Post. Images. |
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Now here’s something that’s sure to create a little bit of controversy. They’re called Brincos, and they’re shoes designed to help illegal immigrants cross the U.S.-Mexican border. Designed by Argentinean artist Judi Werthein, these shoes feature an ar... Read More
Artist Judi Werthein has designed a shoe to help illegal Mexican immigrants sneak into the US. As functional as it is an art piece, the shoes include a compass, a flashlight, and some Tylenol in case of injury en-route. There's... Read More
It's a sneaker very crazy and very sad!
the right provocation for fashion industry
I'm Mexican-American, fortunate enough to be "legal" in either country. My first reaction was to think "well this is f****k up". Then I found this page http://www.parati.com.ar/nota.php?ID=8140 and now I understand where the artist is coming from.
I'm in Phoenix. I'm not hispanic. Still, I think we should exercise a reverse manifest destiny and give teh Southwest back to Mexico. We did steal it from them, after all.
Are you guys afraid? I think so..but dont worry we will still coming to take you jobs and eat your food.
these may be the most ..... F#CKING AWESOME SHOES I HAVE EVER SEEN! when my forefathers crossed the borders into texas i WISH they had had shoes like this... maybe more would have survived.
BADASS! Run Forest! RUN!!!
Ooo yes, now I could see where these things could go down a treat in the UK, whilst trying to find our way back home from the Pub.
Pity they don't have the nightrider red flashy light on the front so people could see ya coming, but hey ho.
Deffo on Santa's chrismas list this year, hell I can see these appearing on eBay at some point, lol.
Hey lird there dead boss they are!! I could do with a pair of them when I'm in me field chasing Flossie around the hills.
Do ya reckon that lad will put other maps on da soles like??
If he does can he do tha border between Wales and Scouse Land cos well then i'll know la which part of the hill to keep me tools on and which part they'll go for a fair walk.
aye and the eagle on the back, can he like put a sheep piccy on da back??
J.
well now that my wells have falling apart i think this is a good investment for the years a head its been a bad 10 years with all my sheep and cows going missing so now i have to search the field night and day with there boots compass, and flashlight i will have my shot gun out in no time
sigh
Soy mexicano y muy agradecido por serlo... solo dos cosas quiero expresar...
1.- Somos el soporte económico de USA, además de ser las personas que mas trabajamos, no es lógico que usen una técnica muy trillada para crear genofobia, eso se llama neo-nazismo
2.- En lugar de opinar a favor o encontra de estos sapatos deportivos, creo que deverÃan pregnutarse como hacer para evitar una estupides tan grande como crear una muro que no es la solución, de como educar a la genta falta de critério y con una responsabilidad social nula.
I'm speak english but I love spanish, by the way, if i need speak english, a lot of people in the world need learn spanish, just for culture, i´m bilingual, why the american people don´t learn other lenguage??? tnx
Because Ivan grimaldo. then we will just sound like you when we talk. you know, all good english speak and proper.
ok that was jsut a stupid reply atom. why dont we all just stay in the border of ignorance instead of learning how to speak properly and increase our general culture?
btw, i'm a polyglot able to speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and some Japanese, Chinese and Korean.
Also, those shoes are awesome. simply priceless. i'd definitely buy those shoes cuz they're worth every penny. Why? Because those shoes embody the relationship between US and Mexico *laughs*.
tongue and cheek, tongue and soul, thank you Judi Werthein. I want a pair size 9 please :)
Bravo! and Encore! and where can I get a pair?
Why do we all forget that NONE of us were here to begin with and we all could have used some help getting here. This is hot stuff.
Beaters: Dude, reverse manifest destiny?...ummm, the corrupt Mexican government would screw up the southwest just as they have a majority of the Mexico. The environmental regulations in Mexico are lax to say the least. The corruption, the poor working conditions, the economic problems, and the lack of opportunities, are largely a direct result of Mexican governmental mismanagement. This is the reason people illegally cross into the US. They want opportunity and they should largely be welcomed.