Amézquita to Expand ICE Memorial at UC Santa Barbara
Artist Jackie Amézquita will add 57 names to her memorial installation during a public activation ceremony on November 1.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Fine Art
On November 1, 2026, artist Jackie Amézquita will host a public activation of her memorial artwork Gemidos de la Tierra at UC Santa Barbara. The event marks an expansion of the project, with 57 new names being added to the installation.
Why it matters
The memorial serves to honor immigrants who died in ICE custody and facilitates a collective space for public mourning. By incorporating soil from the regions where these individuals passed, the work bridges personal loss with broader human rights awareness.
The installation at the Art, Design & Architecture Museum features 15 panels created from soil, masa, salt, and rainwater. The work represents deceased individuals from 10 countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Cuba, China, Ghana, Haiti, and the Czech Republic.
The players
Jackie Amézquita
Jackie Amézquita is an artist who originally launched this memorial in 2020 as her MFA thesis project.
Art, Design & Architecture Museum
The Art, Design & Architecture Museum is the UC Santa Barbara institution hosting the ongoing exhibition of the memorial panels.
The details
Artist Jackie Amézquita handcasts each name using earth from the location of death to create a tactile connection to the deceased. The activation, which starts at 3 p.m., incorporates sound art and contributions from collaborators to perform the ritualistic update of the panels.
Timeline
The public activation begins on November 1, 2026, at 3 p.m.
A panel discussion is scheduled for November 2, 2026.
The exhibition will continue at the museum through November 29, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The work serves as a long-term response to the 2003 inception of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement by focusing on those who died while under its custody. This activation marks a significant expansion of the project, mirroring how artists increasingly use institutional gallery spaces to hold public space for historical reckoning.
The public is invited to attend the activation ceremony at the Art, Design & Architecture Museum on November 1. Attendees can also participate in the scheduled panel discussion on November 2 before the exhibition concludes at the end of the month.
The takeaway
This project transforms statistics into a physical, shared experience by using organic materials like soil and salt to honor the departed. Residents can engage with the installation by attending the public activation or the subsequent panel discussion to participate in the act of collective mourning.
Further reading
Learn more about local creative projects in the Fine Art section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Edhat Santa Barbara.
