This piece was created by Mario Uribe (the Artist) as commentary concerning the immigrant border crossing issue between 1987 and 1990 and here is the statement by the artist about this piece.

“Toll Road” Mario Uribe, 1992, Serigraph:

"In the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s, hundreds of illegal immigrants coming into the US from Mexico died crossing freeways in Southern California, unfamiliar with the speed that vehicles were traveling. The heavy toll prompted Cal Trans to create a freeway sign warning motorists of crossing illegal aliens, like we have for deer or cattle. I wasn’t sure if the purpose of the signs was to protect the immigrants or the motorists.

My perspective has changed in the last 28 years however, and now, when I contemplate that work I remember what my feelings were about the sign – not exactly positive. I feel the same about the sign, but now foremost in my mind and heart are the people who sacrifice so much in order to better themselves, and I am filled with admiration and respect for them. I’ll never know what its like to cross a border illegally or run across a freeway with my family in tow, and hope I never do."

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History of immigration signage on I-5 near San Clemente, CA.

"The immigration sign was a highway safety sign warning motorists to avoid immigrants darting across the road. It depicted a man, woman, and girl with pigtails running. The signs were erected in response to over one hundred immigrant pedestrian deaths due to traffic collisions from 1987 to 1990 in two corridors along interstate 5 along the San Ysidro Port of Entry a the Mexico-United States border and approximately 50 miles (80 km) north at the San Clemente United States Border Patrol Checkpoint in Camp Pendleton.

Immigrant smugglers adopted the tactic of dropping off their human cargo on the shoulder or median of the freeway prior to passing through the checkpoint. Once past the checkpoint, the smugglers would wait for the immigrants to rejoin before proceeding to the final destination. However, in order to avoid the checkpoint (straddling the northbound lanes of the freeway), the immigrants would have to cross the freeway to the southbound shoulder. At the Camp Pendleton checkpoint, immigrants were precluded from passing the checkpoint on the northbound shoulder by rugged terrain and random Marine patrols. The running family silhouette supplemented all-text signs advising drivers "CAUTION WATCH FOR PEOPLE CROSSING ROAD"."

"Why do I make art? Artistic expression is indispensable to an artist, maybe that's what makes us artists to begin with; for me, creating art is a way to document the moments, thoughts, feelings, and emotions of my life – my perspective. I make art that deals with things that concern me; some meaningful others quite banal, but it always, whether I want it to or not, reveals who I am. I try to make art that is honest and deals with the now. I make art about me and primarily for me."

IMPORTANT COLLECTIONS CONTAIN MARIO's WORKS:

San Diego Museum of Fine Arts, San Diego, California
Laguna Beach Art Museum, Laguna Beach, California
Musee de L' Affiche, Paris, France
Musee des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, France
Grunwald Center for the Graphic Arts, Los Angeles, California
Amerika Haus, Berlin, Germany

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