Mariposas Migrate

This country was built by immigrants, yet today ICE hunts, detains, and deports people who have every right to be here: people who labor, who serve, who protect this country. In their removal, America tears out its own roots.

The mariposa—Spanish for butterfly—has risen as a symbol of resistance against the government. Butterflies do not immigrate; they migrate freely across the U.S, Canada, and Mexico. Following paths older than borders. We are not immigrants. We are not aliens. We are human.

The techniques that were used were weaving, tufting, punch needle, felting, and digital embroidery.

The butterflies were tufted, the punch needle came in to perfect the edges and to add more texture to the butterfly's.

There are two woven pieces, both created using double-weave techniques. One represents the unseen, with text that is barely visible. The other represents the seen, where the text appears bold and prominent. The text was collaboratively written with MFA Textiles students from Parsons, Gen 7, and was later digitized.

The woven weaves were used as a form of protect where you will see digital embroidered text; Fuck Ice, America Runs on Immigrants, Stop tearing Families Apart, Chinga la Migra, Here to Stay, Siempre Unidos Con Nuestra Raza, We Are Not Afraid, No Human is Illegal.