Chico MacMurtrie: Border Crossers: Part 2
The heavily militarized Mexican-American border stands rigid and harsh as a direct reflection of separation, a symbol of pain and suffering to many. One moment it towers silent and strict, in the next, however, a mechanical hum fills the tense air as something begins to grow. An organic figure begins to extend itself over the fencing, nearly missing the sharp edges, the structure extends itself down toward the dry ground of the Mexican side.
This bridging body is the fantastic dream of award-winning artist Chico MacMurtrie. The Brooklyn based artist is known for his amorphic robotic sculptures and installations. The University of Michigan community was introduced to Mr. MacMurtrie's inspirational project of the Border Crossers this past Friday during an event hosted by the University of Michigan Museum of Art and the Institute for the Humanities. The event included not only a spectacle performance by the Border Crosser piece but a short lecture by Mr. MacMurtrie himself.
Mr. MacMurtrie and the Institute for the Humanities recruited a student work team to participate in the creation of a version of his Border Crosser. Hailing from a variety of majors and representing the wide diversity of thought cultivated within the University community, these students came together effectively to illustrate the potential impact and success crossing borders can catalyze. Though the project was daunting, and in the words of Mr. MacMurtrie "if you're making things move, they are going to break", the group pushed beyond the obstacles to create the mechanized sculpture. Even with the wind ripping a hole in the inflatable encapsulation of the sculpture, the presentation was successful in proving its point. Borders are meant to be crossed, often to produce a greener land in between.
During the lecture, however, the provocation of human thought and creativity was not limited to the impressive and curious images of Mr. MacMurtrie's past works. Instead, there was much to be gained in the stream of consciousness the artist allowed the audience to join and influence. A specific flow crept toward the intrigue around the structure of the actual Border Crosser sculpture. The form, as previously described, appears organic and alive. Looking just at the process of getting the piece to rise, there is air and strength of foundation required. This is reflective of the human-like quality of breathing and drawing strength from the soundness of bones and muscle. The robotic sculpture also proved to be highly fragile with its fabric polymer being ripped open by the wind. This sense of organic fragility directly related to a sense of humanity and human experience. Thinking beyond this, tying a peaceful purpose to such organic creations forces an observer to question their own responsibility to cross borders against odds.
This artistic gesture is a direct critique of the drive of Americans today to cross the borders we so strictly enforce. While there is not the necessity for such extremes as to pull these borders down or remove measures that are integral to the protection of our own nation, there is a desperate need to look beyond these borders far more often than we do.
Therefore, between the moments of security and political structure, there should be moments of reaching over that giant dark wall. Opening up for healing and relief of suffering so innately caused by separating humans from other humans. Greatly inspired by Mr. MacMurtrie's vision of the Border Crosser installation. Moreover, next time an organic figure reaches over that fencing, one can only fantastically dream that a beating heart and willingness to create welcoming dialogue can accompany it.
