August 13, 2009 @ 12:36 pm
In a move I can hardly understand, the Customs and Border Protection agency is choosing to dismantle a brand-new, beautifully designed sign at the United States-Canada border because they believe it attracts “undue attention” and risks the lives of the employees working at the border station.
The sign in question, consisting of large yellow letters that spell out “UNITED STATES”, are hidden partially by the architecture of the border station which was designed by Smith-Miller & Hawkinson. The building itself will remain standing and serve as the border station between Canada and the U.S. and it is just the large signage that will be taken down. I don’t understand how this is going to make it safer for employees and less conspicuous to terrorists. I mean, could this building be anything other than a border station?
Fast Company has a few more words with the designer of the sign, Michael Bierut, and why he thinks it’s being dismantled by the government.
May 5, 2009 @ 4:40 pm
Something about a black frame and a thick white border make any ordinary picture look amazing. These are pretty hot.
Peep them in person at the Calumet Gallery from May 12-22.
And if you can, stop by on Tuesday, May 12th from 6PM-8:30PM for the opening reception where you can meet me and the rest of the graduating photography class of 2009 (and see their work too!).
October 16, 2008 @ 8:39 pm
On the left, San Diego, CA, and on the right, Tijuana, Mexico.
I’ve been to Mexico before, but not through the United States-Mexico border station, where 50,000 vehicles and 20,000 people on foot allegedly pass through each day. The photos that Deputy Dog has dug up showing the border station between the two countries is remarkable. I had no idea that it was this busy since I always thought of the border as this barren land separated by a tall chain-link fence (so much for TV shows and movies…).
Anyway, I love the clear separation between the two cities. Mexico is known as a very crowded place and you an definitely see it in the photo above.
And again, in the photo below, the clear separation of two countries is literally accomplished by a thin sheet of metal. I’m assuming that there’s a border patrol guard standing nearby on both sides, but I can’t imagine how hard the job must be to make sure that people do not swim over to the other side on this beach.
Anyway, I really want to visit Mexico again now. Maybe in the near future.
