The U.S.-Mexico border wall is topic of near-constant conversation in the news today, particularly how it divides people of the two countries. But thanks to two professors in California, the wall has become a brief way to unify those on both sides of it. Ronald Rael, an architecture professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and Virginia San Fratello, an associate professor of design at San Jose State, conceived of a series of seesaws slotted between the slats of the border wall and used the division as the fulcrum for the pieces of playground equipment. Folks on either side were then invited to bop up and down—putting themselves face-to-face with someone in another country.
Rael and Fratello created the concept for their project, aptly called Teetertotter Wall, in 2009. At that time, Rael had written the book Borderwall as Architecture, and its cover features a drawing of the teetertotter. Although it took a decade for the idea to come to fruition, because of the current border crisis, it arrives at just the right moment. The neon pink seesaws were brought to Sunland Park, New Mexico and then slid through the fence where they met people in Colonia Anapra, Mexico. There was no advanced planning for the event, but everything went smoothly with adults and children joining in the fun.
Rael shared the incredible event via Instagram, and it highlights how the simple act of play can yield such profound experiences. “The wall became a literal fulcrum for U.S.-Mexico relations,” he wrote, “and children and adults were connected in meaningful ways on both sides with the recognition that the actions that take place on one side have a direct consequence on the other side.”
Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello created Teetertotter Wall, which utilized the Mexico and New Mexico border wall as a fulcrum for bright pink seesaws.
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Sliding the teetertotter between the slats of the wall, they invited people on both sides to take a turn on it. In doing so, they had fun and connected with each other in meaningful ways.
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Ronald Rael: Website | Instagram
Virginia San Fratello: Website | Instagram
h/t: [People]
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