Alejandro-Santiago-Obituary

Alejandro Santiago

Obituary

OAXACA, Mexico (AP) - Alejandro Santiago, a Mexican artist who filled the streets of his hometown with clay figures to represent the migrants who left for the United States, died Monday. He was 49.

Santiago died of a heart attack, said Emilio de Leo, the Oaxaca state culture director. De Leo said Santiago had diabetes for years.

"Our condolences go to the family of the great teacher and cultural promoter Alejandro Santiago, a loss to Oaxaca," Oaxaca Gov. Gabino Cue wrote on his Twitter account.

Santiago, a painter and sculptor who studied in the workshop of Rufino Tamayo in Oaxaca, had shows in Mexico, the United States and Europe.

His best known work was "2,501 Migrants," which opened in 2007 in his picturesque hometown of Teococuilco, in southern Oaxaca state. Financed with a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, it was an ambitious work to create an army of life-size clay figures to replace departed townspeople.

He created th e statues, each about 4-feet, 4-inches tall and 150 pounds, to represent the young people who had abandoned his hamlet in impoverished Oaxaca state. No two sculptures were alike and many of the faces were sculpted to reflect the hardship of migrants' lives in both Mexico and the United States.

Santiago said the inspiration for the project came in 2001, when he returned home after a three-year stay in Paris and was struck by Teococuilco's empty streets.

In 2003, Santiago decided to experience for himself what it was like to cross the U.S. border illegally. He met a smuggler in Tijuana who set him up with fake papers and tried to cross. Santiago was quickly caught by U.S. immigration authorities and returned to Mexico, but he was struck by the thousands of crosses put on the corrugated wall marking the border by activists to represent those who died trying to cross. .

He estimated those crosses numbered about 2,500 and settled on that number, plus one, for his project. He said the extra figure symbolized that there is always one more person who is leaving, risking his or her life to try to reach the United States.

SAYRA CRUZ, Associated Press


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Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

May the peace that God gives be with the Santiago family.(Romans 15:33)

Alejandro Santiago's Life Will Live On Forever Thru His Art..
One Day I Hope Our People Do Not Need To Leave Our Families & Beautiful Land Behind.

Santiago family- So sorry for your loss. (Psalm 145:14)

so sorry for the loss,may you be granted peace by ALMIGHTY GOD.He gives in a very large way...nc

Mr. Santiago: Thank you for your dedication & for caring. You have left this Earth better for having been here. Condolences to his family & friends. Psalms 121....

My deepest sympathies. May the "God of all comfort," help to ease the pain of your grief during this time.(1 Cor 1:3,4)

ALEJANDRO MAY THE LORD GIVE YOUR SOUL COMFORT AND PEACE TO YOUR LOVE ONES. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR WORK. GOD BLESS. R.I.P. YOU ARE APPRECIATED.

There are many American's that want to talk down in regards to their country, never seeing it through a different set of eyes! May God Bless YOU Mr. Santiago, and GOD BLESS AMERICA! there are many places the people wish they had it half as good!!