Beyond the Wall

Known for performances with 15 foot tall puppets at the US/Mexico border wall, Beyond the Wall is a collective of artists and organizers exploring life at borders through puppetry, art, and community engagement. Since Jess and collaborator Ana Díaz Barriga founded the project in 2017, Beyond the Wall has built 14 giant puppets, hosted two arts and culture festivals, piloted a binational pen pal program, and performed in Nogales AZ/SON, New York, London, and Prague.

The project is currently led by Analía Briones, Jacksubeli Gonzalez, Jess Kaufman, Oscar Lancaster, Jimena Pacheco, and Elena Vega.

More at www.ArtBeyondtheWall.com

Press

HuffPo Blogs - Wise Imagination: Mischief and Mirth at the Wall
Arizona Public Media (NPR Affiliate) - [AUDIO] Arizona Spotlight: Listening Beyond the Wall [click here for version w/transcript]
El Diario de Sonora - Expondrán proyecto “Más Allá del Muro” en Nogales
Nogales International - Giant puppets frolic at the border fence
Nogales International - Ambos Nogales students talk ‘beyond the wall’
Nogales International - Puppet festival returns May 5 to Ambos Nogales
TV Azteca - [VIDEO] preview story on 2017 festival
Meganoticias - [VIDEO] story on Beyond the Wall documentary

Photo gallery

"Linda" at the wall

2019 Festival - “Linda” at the wall with teen puppeteers. Photo by Analía Briones for Beyond the Wall.

Tony and Linda at the Wall

2019 Festival - “Tony” and “Linda” at the wall with teen puppeteers. Photo by Talya Chalef for Beyond the Wall.

Susie and her makers

2017 Festival - “Susie” with her makers and puppeteers. Photo by Talya Chalef for Beyond the Wall.

Flor and crew

2017 R&D - “Flor” with Jess, Ana, and the documentary team at Governor’s Island R&D. Photo by Michael Kaufman.

Pen Pal Picnic

2018 Pen Pal Picnic - teen pen pal participants meet at the wall. Photo by India Aubry.

Pen Pal Picnic

2018 Pen Pal Picnic - teen pen pal participants meet at the wall. Photo by India Aubry.

Pen Pal Picnic

2018 Pen Pal Picnic - teen pen pal participants meet at the wall. Photo by Jess Kaufman.

Susie

2017 Festival - “Susie” and her creators/puppeteers walk down Calle Internacional. Photo and design by Talya Chalef.

Puppet workshop

2017 Festival prep - teen puppet participants discuss identity with Ana Díaz Barriga and Jess Kaufman (both at far L) while 24 Fotogramas film. Photo by Talya Chalef.

Festival Audience

2017 Festival - Spectators peer through the wall at the puppets on the other side. Photo by Kendal Blust for the Nogales International.

Flor on Governor's Island

2017 Workshop - Flor takes her first steps on Governor’s Island in NYC. Production still from 2017 crowdfunding video by 24 Fotogramas.

Flor in Nogales

2017 Festival - Flor looks through the border wall from Nogales SON into Nogales AZ. Photo by Kendall Blust for the Nogales International.

Ambos Nogales Puppet Gathering

2017 Festival - all five inaugural giant puppets - (l to R) Toby, Georgina, Flor, Tony, and Susie - meet at the border wall in Ambos Nogales. Photo by Talya Chalef.

Pen Pals

2018 Pen Pal Picnic - teen pen pal participants meet at the wall. Photo by India Aubry.

Flor on Calle Internacional

2017 Festival - Flor puppeteered by young participants walks down Calle Internacional in Nogales, SON. Photo by Talya Chalef.

Susie, Tony, Flor

2017 Festival - Susie, Tony, and Flor rest between performances. Photo by Talya Chalef.

Flor on Governor's Island

2017 Workshop - Flor gazes at the Statue of Liberty from Governor’s Island. Photo by Michael Kaufman.

Toby and Georgina

2017 Festival - Toby and Georgina walk down International Street in Nogales, AZ. Photo by Kendall Blust for the Nogales International.

Making Susie

2017 Festival prep - two young participants design Susie. Photo by Talya Chalef.

Building Tony

2017 Festival Prep - young participants building Tony. Photo by Talya Chalef.

Toby at the wall

2017 Festival - Toby, puppeteered by Jess Kaufman and Oscar Lancaster, leans on the border wall. Photo by Kendall Blust for the Nogales International.

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