The sculptural installation ”The Mothers; Las Madres” reflects the human suffering of migrants coming across the Mexican/American border in search of work. Each Mother figure represents over 1000 men, women and children who have lost their lives crossing the desert. The sculptures are made from discarded migrant clothing reclaimed from the desert and then blended with Sonoran plant material. The sculpture's distressed surfaces speak to the physical and psychological experience of the arduous journey and its effect on the people and on the environment they cross.

Until Las Madres was installed, there was no Memorial in the area to the people who have died crossing the desert in the last decade, no public altar to visit to pay our respects, no way to acknowledge thousands of people who have no voice. As artists, Antonia Gallegos, Valarie James, Cesar Lopez and Deborah McCullough hope their collaboration on the Las Madres Project can help fill the void. Countless mothers wait behind, praying for safe passage for their husbands, sons & daughters as they make their perilous trek through the desert. Las Madres takes the issue of immigration out of the realm of politics and brings it back into the heart, reminding us of our common humanity. The sculptures are part of Pima Community College's award winning Sculpture on Campus Program, and can be viewed at Pima Community college's campus at 8181 East Irvington Road, in Tucson.

Antonia Gallegos' mentor - the sculptor Valarie James (creator of Las Madres) was also inspired by Antonia's experience who was reunited in 2003 with a missing daughter after 35 years. Antonia served as the model for Las Madres and was the principal collaborator in The Mothers; Las Madres/No Mas Lagrimas; No More Tears project.

Countless mothers wait, praying for safe passage for their husbands, sons & daughters as they make their perilous trek through the desert. Las Madres takes the issue of immigration out of the realm of politics and brings it back into the heart, reminding us of our common humanity. The sculptures are part of Pima Community College's award winning Sculpture on Campus Program, and can be viewed at Pima Community college's campus at 8181 East Irvington Road, in Tucson. For more information visit www.LasMadresProject.org.