"Faces of the Migrants": A multimedia fundraising art exhibit that began in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, to raise funds and awareness for a small migrant refuge in Celaya, MX, named Casa ABBA. To learn more, view my short documentary film on YouTube at: https://tinyurl.com/BloodontheTracksbyJMoran All funds contributed here (minus the small GFM fee) will go directly to Casa ABBA via Jennifer Moran. PHOTO CAPTION: Like so many, the boy in the photo above was fleeing his impoverished and violence-filled country in Central America to pursue his dream to work in the United States. But in his innocence, he could never have imagined how badly that dream could shatter. Of course, he’d heard how dangerous riding the roofs of the trains could be. But it couldn't happen to him. Yet halfway through Mexico, it did. While scrambling up the ladder of a moving train, the strings of the boy’s ragged backpack were caught by the voracious steel wheels and sucked his body under. The boy was lucky. His left leg was severed above the knee but quick medical intervention likely saved his life. Most migrants in similar accidents don’t survive. Migrant train amputations like this are so common in Mexico that many people who live near the tracks have learned how to apply a tourniquet and where to quickly obtain help. But ask yourself this: When these mostly-young, and newly-disabled victims are released from the hospital only days later - then what? Miles from family, no money, undocumented, and suffering terrible physical and emotional trauma - who steps up to care for these desperate human beings? These brave young souls, who while chasing the dream of a better life, instead find themselves trapped in a nightmare. It’s been a year since American television photojournalist Jennifer Moran, with camera in hand, first stepped through the steel doors of Casa ABBA - a small migrant refuge in Central Mexico near her part-time home. But nothing prepared her for the heart-wrenching stories she found behind those cement walls. Immediately she knew they needed to be seen and heard - and the idea for this exhibit was born. But central to Casa ABBA is the story of its founder, Pastor Ignacio Ramírez, who almost ten years ago saw the desperate train migrants passing near his small church and decided to help. First with food and water, then more. Eventually, he managed to open Casa ABBA, a temporary migrant refuge located in a rundown cement structure in Celaya within walking distance of the tracks. The refuge, run on a shoestring budget, is open to all, day or night. It offers the hungry, dirty and frightened migrants food, clothing, showers, use of a phone - and most of all - a few nights of safety and people who care. Casa ABBA has now helped almost 100,000 migrants amidst their terrifying run for the US border. All through donations. But when Pastor Ignacio began to hear about the migrant amputees being released onto the streets of Mexico with nowhere to go, he again opened his doors. Eventually, Casa ABBA partnered with Cruz Roja (Mexico’s version of the Red Cross) to offer a cost-free, nine-month prosthesis program to these amputee victims. It is currently Cruz Roja’s only such partnership in all of Mexico, and Casa ABBA program amputees stay at the refuge cost-free. On September 1, 2024, a fundraising exhibit of Moran’s photographic and video documentary work from Casa ABBA, along with migrant-themed work from seven other well-known and big-hearted San Miguel artists, will open at Casa Europa in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The venue is one of this art-filled city’s largest exhibition spaces, and all artists are donating fifty percent of their sales to the cause. The exhibit will hang for the entire month of September. Why do we need your help? The exhibit is presented and partly funded by the Latin American Relief Fund - an American 501(c)(3) based in San Miguel that is the main supporter of Casa Abba. But this kind of multimedia exhibit is expensive and we still need to raise another $3,000. for production costs. Moran's work creating the photographs, stories, videos and exhibit is being donated. But money is still needed to pay hard production costs which include: $1,800. for photo printing and framing; and $1,200. for exhibition signage and other miscellaneous exhibit costs for the eight artists. Any unused funds raised through this campaign will go directly to Casa ABBA. Immigration is one of the biggest and most controversial issues around the world right now. But who are the actual souls behind the headlines who undertake this incredibly difficult journey? And who takes care of them when things go so tragically wrong? This unique and important exhibition will answer some of those questions, invite more, and lend a voice to people with none. It will also help fund LARF’s plans to greatly expand Casa Abba's facilities because its waiting list of desperate migrant amputees grows longer every day. Down through history, art has been a powerful agent of change. People need to see and feel this experience - not just read about the issue in the news. Please become part of creating this powerful, immersive exhibit by donating here today. Then come! All donors, large or small, will be listed on our donor board on opening night on September 1. People who donate more than $100. - or 1600 pesos - will be listed as Angel Donors. You can also be anonymous, use a business name, or donate in the name of someone or something else. Show that you care. Every little bit helps! And if possible, please show up for our opening night on September 1 (5-8 pm) to share a beverage, meet the artists, and hear Pastor Ignacio speak. We welcome everyone, whether you can buy art, donate, or not. And the artwork for sale is quite simply astounding! Artists include: photojournalist Jennifer Moran; art photographer Ri Anderson; painter José Luis Arias; visual artist Marisa Bullosa; textile artist Lena Bartula; muralist/painter Jorge Prado; author/ sculptor Edward Swift; and painter Juan Zaragoza. "Faces of the Migrants": Sept. 1-29, 2024 @ Casa Europa Calle San Francisco 23 Colonia Centro San Miguel de Allende, GTO, MX Vaya con Dios❤️
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