In part of the Tucson Museum of Art, the walls are adorned with items that can be found nearly anywhere.
Cowboy boots with twine hanging from the soles line one wall. A sculpture of a prickly pear cactus made from copper wire and cloth from a Border Patrol uniform stands in front of another. A wearable sculpture made from car parts hangs from the ceiling.
They're part of the museum's newest exhibit, "Ya Hecho: Readymade in the Borderlands," which opened in early July and runs through Nov. 30.
Christine Brindza, the museum's senior curator, said "Ya Hecho" combines the concept of the readymade, or the use of pre-fabricated or mass-produced items in art, with the Chicano style of rasquechismo, developed through a history of resourcefulness in the face of necessity.
Each of the 17 artists who contributed pieces have roots along the United States-Mexico border, from both sides, which is reflected in the work.
"This is the language of a certain region," said Rigoberto Luna, the exhibit's guest curator. "While it might not be as widely represented in the art world, it's just as legitimate."
