The American Dream: Photographs by Tom Kiefer brings to light the otherwise invisible facets of migrants’ experiences crossing the border between Mexico and the United States. These contemporary still-life photographs feature the personal possessions of migrants and asylum seekers that U.S. Border Patrol agents confiscated and discarded from 2003 through 2014.

The artworks in this exhibition exist because artist Tom Kiefer worked as a janitor for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing facility in Ajo, Arizona. During his fourth year of employment, Kiefer became disturbed by the volume of food being thrown away and was given permission to take the packaged food to the local food bank. When taking food out of the garbage, Kiefer became aware that other items were also in the trash.

Recognizing the importance of the items to their owners, Kiefer started retrieving materials from the garbage to collect and preserve. After years of bringing home cast-off rosaries, Bibles, stuffed animals, family snapshots, medicine, letters, and other personal property from the Customs and Border Protection processing facility, Kiefer began grouping and photographing the collection. The resulting body of artwork personalizes the unnamed migrants and asylum seekers by elevating their precious objects to a form of fine art. Although the names and stories of the migrants who walked this path are not known, each photograph evokes a unique story bound to the lost owner of the objects, a silent exploration of loss and what it means to be seen and treated as ‘other.’ Through his lens, Kiefer provides a platform for discussions on borders, humanity, and the lengths people will go to seek a better life for those they love.

Admissions:
BAM Members - FREE
General - $9
Student (Grades 1-12) - $5
Children 5 and under - FREE
Full-time College Student (with ID) - $5
Senior (62 and over) - $7
Military (active & retired with ID) - $7