Makerspace: Immigration Artifacts

I am fortunate to have a great maker space in my building on campus. It’s full of 3-D printers, laser cutting machines, vinyl cutting machines, a wood shop, and a welding shop. And great ideas!

Some of my Texas history students chose to make physical expressions of their personal narrative. They took a workshop on laser-cutting, created a vector design on the computer, then cut their project. Here are some examples, student write-ups and explanations, shared with permission.

Combined Flags: Texas and Japan

For my artifact, I made an engraving of the Texas and Japanese flags combined. The artifact was both flags divided in half and joined by the rising sun of the Japanese flag. The reason I chose this design is because of my mother's immigration to the United States. Having immigrated from Japan and assimilated into the Texas culture I thought the design perfectly embodies the theme of my Texas Story Project. The design demonstrates the combination of Japanese and Texan cultures that my mother embraced during her immigration. Additionally, it represents the experiences of the Japanese that immigrated to Texas throughout Texas history. 

We are the Same: Texas and Vietnam

I made the Texas shape with wood with the message "We Are The Same" inside the artifact. I make the Texas shape because Texas is the state where I spent most time living when I am in The US. Texas brings me a lot of memories, historical places, and amazing experiences. The message inside the artifact means that people everywhere in the world will be the same because all of us are human. I put this message because I saw and go through the discrimination in my Vietnamese Community. I hope it will not happen the same with other communities or races.

 We Have Come This Far: Texas and Cuba

I wrote about how we (my family) made to the U.S. and as for the artifact project to attach the written portion of the assignment to the artifact itself, I decided to engrave on a acrylic. Blessing my family for the sacrifice and everything that was done, and also saying how far we will make it if we stay united we will accomplish many more things. and listed my family members. And as a final touch I included my grandpa who was denied on the second interview and passed away four years after we got to the U.S., as a way to commemorate him.

Flags: Mexico and Texas

The artifact that I settled on was laser cutting onto a piece of wood in which three flags, created on Inkscape, would represent my background/ story as a person living here in Texas. The first flag in the background is the Mexican flag which represents my Mexican heritage of being born to Mexican parents that came over to the United States for a better life. The Mexican flag being the background also represents that despite my assimilation into American/Texan culture, my Mexican roots will always shadow over me as a reminder to cherish my roots as a Mexican born to two amazing Mexican parents. The next flag is the former (and alleged) flag of the former Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas back when Texas was a part of Mexico as well as the alleged flag flown by Juan Seguín and his Tejano-Ranchero Volunteers. The flag has meaning to me since learning about the Texas Revolution was the catalyst that got me into studying and reading about history as well as acknowledge that despite the Texas Revolution being acknowledged as a war fought for slavery and to steal Texas from Mexico I also acknowledge that many Tejanos fought under Sam Houston and his Texian Army and recognize their contributions, for better or for worse, to Texas' independence. Finally, the Texas Flag represents my love for this state and its rich history and the fact that I was born and raised in this state for most of my life.