Border Stories: Paintings and Poems by Shaun T. Griffin
In Border Stories, poet and artist Shaun T. Griffin brings the stories from the struggles of life at the border into a series of watercolor paintings and poems. Shaun draws from his lifetime of experiences in service to the greater community. He co-founded and directed Community Chest, a rural social justice agency, for 27 years. Because the Light Will Not Forgive Me—Essays from a Poet was released by the University of Nevada Press in 2019. His most recent book of poems is The Monastery of Stars (Kelsay Books, 2020).
This exhibition was on display December 2, 2021 – January 21, 2022 at the Nevada Humanities Program Gallery in Las Vegas. An opening reception and discussion took place at the Nevada Humanities Program Gallery and Art Square Courtyard on Thursday, December 2, 2021, from 5 to 8 pm. Watch a replay of the discussion below.
![Looking through the Wall](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1638403853776-UT8NB1NG2RAUOT4R8JJ0/Shaun+T.+Griffin_Looking+through+the+Wall_Watercolor.jpg)
![Borderless Child](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1638403834594-MMVGGT620KQ1FNFTLPU9/Shaun+T.+Griffin_Borderless+Child_Watercolor.jpg)
![The Border to Us](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1638483056330-MU3P0PIBTAKX21IAFL7V/3_Shaun+T.+Griffin_The+Border+to+Us_Watercolor.jpg)
![The Border to Us](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1638403864293-AYORKGSQ7PQSWS3KKFES/Shaun+T.+Griffin_The+Border+to+Us_Watercolor+Study.jpg)
![Border Wall with Gray Fox - East of Nogales, AZ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1638403832546-NJLDTL764P2BYALN9OJQ/Shaun+T.+Griffin_Border+Wall+with+Gray+Fox+-+East+of+Nogales%2C+AZ_Watercolor.jpg)
![Los Huerfanos, Ajijic, Mexico](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1638482784314-7FWR3LXEFQI64YEOVPBG/Shaun%2BT.%2BGriffin_Los%2BHuerfanos%252C%2BAjijic%252C%2BMexico_Watercolor.jpg)
![Two Views of the Desert (without wall)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1638403886352-56R0D6N0RYRKL1TKYKWG/Shaun+T.+Griffin_Two+Views+of+the+Desert+%28without+wall%29_Watercolor.jpg)
![Two Views of the Desert (with wall)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1638405729726-0V7SESB62UR6NFLTESCW/Shaun%2BT.%2BGriffin_Two%2BViews%2Bof%2Bthe%2BDesert%2B%2528with%2Bwall%2529_Watercolor.jpg)
![At the Border](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1638482688848-4FVAEH89ZYSS047TCO2O/9_Shaun+T.+Griffin_At+the+Border_Watercolor.jpg)
![At the Border of Animals](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1638403819714-17GWLZPPTPHCTBTJ9DH8/Shaun+T.+Griffin_At+the+Border+of+Animals_Watercolor.jpg)
![Two Crows](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1638403875786-AYOHFSRZZWGCYZU4YSM0/Shaun+T.+Griffin_Two+Crows_Watercolor.jpg)
![Izzy at the Boarder of Queens and the Desert](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1638403842944-6HC684BELBASISK3B50H/Shaun+T.+Griffin_Izzy+at+the+Boarder+of+Queens+and+the+Desert_Watercolor.jpg)
![Border of Windows and Doors](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1638482682201-G7M06289X0TLH53S4SRP/13_Shaun+T.+Griffin_Border+of+Windows+and+Doors_Watercolor.jpg)
![Border of Doors and Windows](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1638403824386-FGLM5824IQFOIH01BFMV/Shaun+T.+Griffin_Border+of+Doors+and+Windows_Watercolor+%28study%29.jpg)
![Looking East to the Great Basin](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1638403845448-O62BK2D53SIBGQ4ODW08/Shaun+T.+Griffin_Looking+East+to+the+Great+Basin_Watercolor.jpg)
![The Boarder of Stars and Moons](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1638403864891-RGA420Y9A9BRWN07X5XE/Shaun+T.+Griffin_The+Boarder+of+Stars+and+Moons_Watercolor.jpg)
![Looking East to the Great Basin](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1638403875288-CRYOU5VNQP7Z86FN6PH1/Shaun+T.+Griffin_Topography+of+the+Soul+on+a+Watery+Border%2C+Matamoros_Watercolor.jpg)
![Boarder of Tents and Water](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1638403813621-A2REDL1OI85I14W5F207/Shaun+T.+Griffin_Boarder+of+Tents+and+Water_Watecolor.jpg)
![A Boarder of Hands](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1638483001644-WW611ZMVTHMSDQQ5746Y/19_Shaun+T.+Griffin_A+Boarder+of+Hands_Watercolor+%28study%29.jpg)
![A Border of Hands](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1638483438093-QDMZ30MQBBNKURG4E7YW/20_Shaun%2BT.%2BGriffin_A%2BBorder%2Bof%2BHands_Watercolor.jpg)
As I started to work on these paintings (and long beforehand), I pulled articles and pictures from the paper when I was stopped cold by their urgency—whether or not I could paint them. I knew they were a compelling link to their humanity—and that’s what gets lost. We forget these are people first, without qualifiers of country, of origin.
They helped remind me I could not forget their faces, however inconceivably torn from what they left behind.
Detail + Gallery Views
![1_Looking Through the Wall_Detail_3082.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884336496-KTYNQYFNFH4C6M8O3QJQ/1_Looking+Through+the+Wall_Detail_3082.jpg)
![1_Looking Through the Wall_detail_3088.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884352959-PA7P0KQ94KVRZJ8RMVDK/1_Looking+Through+the+Wall_detail_3088.jpg)
![2_Borderless Child_detail_3083.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884363305-MH8DPFEEEE50CFO3Z0SE/2_Borderless+Child_detail_3083.jpg)
![2_Borderliss Child_detail_3086.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884377748-BG4BNYL4CHKLD5QRGHQD/2_Borderliss+Child_detail_3086.jpg)
![5_Border Wall with Gray Fox_detail_3109.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884388633-5AW1S0R0016OVR1BOSNW/5_Border+Wall+with+Gray+Fox_detail_3109.jpg)
![6_Los Huerfanos_detail_3114.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884385988-H6VEW1NWDHZE5Y6ETV9C/6_Los+Huerfanos_detail_3114.jpg)
![9_AT THE BORDER_DETAIL_3038.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884409189-6YJSZ4FKYI36F05VHTT9/9_AT+THE+BORDER_DETAIL_3038.jpg)
![11_TWO CROWS_DETAIL_3044.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884425119-YL6C6CQBHIHJCLW73G78/11_TWO+CROWS_DETAIL_3044.jpg)
![9_AT THE BORDER_DETAIL_3039.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884437639-V2TVKGPS4NA8KSQFU3AS/9_AT+THE+BORDER_DETAIL_3039.jpg)
![12_Izzy at the Border of Queens_detail_3049.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884435722-DFAWSJJH2JGISFH5LG6P/12_Izzy+at+the+Border+of+Queens_detail_3049.jpg)
![13_ Border of Windows and Doors_DETAIL_3055.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884454841-URZ4EUMC71TEM77J3U57/13_+Border+of+Windows+and+Doors_DETAIL_3055.jpg)
![14_Border of Windows and Doors_detail_3053 .jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884443923-TX1SKQPSAO5B9O2U3CJR/14_Border+of+Windows+and+Doors_detail_3053+.jpg)
![15_GREAT BASIN_DETAIL_3057.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884452810-NOLKGZ5EP404G4NFCH6M/15_GREAT+BASIN_DETAIL_3057.jpg)
![15_GREAT BASIN_DETAIL_3058.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884459806-64JCFU61X74CBZXTQU7T/15_GREAT+BASIN_DETAIL_3058.jpg)
![16_Border of Stars and Moons_DETAIL_3063.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884472214-DGAU489IQJOL1XF9AV3Q/16_Border+of+Stars+and+Moons_DETAIL_3063.jpg)
![17_IMG_3073_Topography of the Soul_Detail.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884496170-6AVRFE4D7UJDTU2JKUYD/17_IMG_3073_Topography+of+the+Soul_Detail.jpg)
![17_IMG_3074_Topography of the Soul_detail.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884502629-IFHGU21NFF1UTWAXFTLJ/17_IMG_3074_Topography+of+the+Soul_detail.jpg)
![Exhbition view_3115 copy.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884511763-9Q3Z2RCQGYSVSFGQ3M2F/Exhbition+view_3115+copy.jpg)
![GALLERY VIEW SOUTH_3030 .jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884517181-OXCUPK3AIDHJB6HJHCU4/GALLERY+VIEW+SOUTH_3030+.jpg)
![Gallery View_East Wall_3106 .jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884532035-Z0N940CDDUXJOVL5E7E6/Gallery+View_East+Wall_3106+.jpg)
![Gallery View_North Wall_3093.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884523013-49ELEZL6RQ7JULJ8JBKU/Gallery+View_North+Wall_3093.jpg)
![Gallery View_North Wall.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884529710-5TSKBUASR4T2YUP8SCNK/Gallery+View_North+Wall.jpg)
![Gallery View_south wall_3029 .jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884536654-K8O2VIMCQ2U4VVADDAJ4/Gallery+View_south+wall_3029+.jpg)
![Gallery View_South Wall_3098.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884536832-1I48DR6N4X1WHDB3BF8C/Gallery+View_South+Wall_3098.jpg)
![Gallery View_West Wall_3096.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884539682-KXNHVCUQW9POBWLRVUXK/Gallery+View_West+Wall_3096.jpg)
![Gallery View_West Wall_3097.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a344ba7692ebe0d3d36b945/1644884544251-ZOR3N2828NKEFATHIQUH/Gallery+View_West+Wall_3097.jpg)