PHOTOS Unhindered by Trump's wall, seesaws create border fun
The seesaws at the border between the U.S. and Mexico. Captured from Ronald Rael's Instagram
By Park Si-soo
U.S. President Donald Trump's “metal beam wall” has separated people in the U.S. and Mexico. But the creativity of two American professors has pierced the wall, allowing children from both sides to play together.
The breathtaking idea of installing seesaws through the wall originated from two California professors ― Ronald Rael, an architect professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and Virginia San Fratello, an associate professor of design at San Jose State.
The pair came up with the idea in 2009 and it became a reality at an event on Monday (local time).
A mother and her baby play on a seesaw installed between the steel fence that divides Mexico from the United States in Ciudad de Juarez, Mexico. The seesaw was designed by Ronald Rael, a professor of architecture in California. (AP Photo/Christian Chavez)
American and Mexican families play on the seesaws over the Mexican border with the U.S. in Ciudad de Juarez, Mexico. (Photo by LUIS TORRES/AFP)
Sharing the exciting moment on Instagram, along with several photos from the day, Rael explained how meaningful it was to watch people from both sides of the border play together on seesaws.
“One of the most incredible experiences of my and @vasfsf's career bringing to life the conceptual drawings of the Teetertotter Wall from 2009 in an event filled with joy, excitement and togetherness at the border wall,” he wrote on Instagram.
“The wall became a literal fulcrum for U.S.―Mexico relations 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,” he continued, before thanking those who helped make this idea possible.
Children and a man play on seesaws installed between the border fence that divides Mexico from the United States in Ciudad de Juarez, Mexico. (AP Photo/Christian Torres)
Children line up to play on the seesaws. The device was designed by Ronald Rael, a professor of architecture in California. (AP Photo/Christian Chavez)
Members of the Mexican military police wearing the insignia of the new National Guard check children and people as they play on seesaws installed between the border fence that divides Mexico from the United States in Ciudad de Juarez, Mexico. (AP Photo/Christian Torres)