Wide enough to be accessible and free of any continuous constructed barriers such as walls or fences, this political border, at times, is one of the most serene and peaceful places on the planet compared to some of world’s more heavily guarded borders that feature a 15-foot wall (parts of the USA-Mexico border), or a large zone that is subject to a tense military stand- off (Korean Demilitarized Zone). Once one steps into the cutline, a vista opens up that stretches far into the landscape, a dispassionate line that runs along the terrain and eventually disappears over the horizon. Walking and hiking the border reminds us of land artist Richard Long and his 1967 work, A Line Made by Walking , where he walks a straight line in a field and leaves an track of trampled plants in an otherwise undisturbed meadow. This ground-breaking act remains one of his most well-known pieces, launching his career and a fascination with trails and traces. His subsequent projects continued to reference the original, including Walking A Line in Peru in 1972 and other similar projects around the world varying in scale. By leaving a mark, a trace, an unintended vestige of life, he explored one of the most universal human acts there is. In the case of the Canada-USA border, the simple, practical act of clearing an area to reveal a border could be seen as a deliberate and at the same time unintended work of land art. On such a grand scale the act demonstrates trust, camaraderie, transparency and an international symbol of cooperation between two countries. However, its current purpose as a method of perpetual surveillance and border demarcation, does not reveal its layered identity, an ongoing development since the border’s inception. eyes on the line Security around the border has been fairly loose for the most part of each country’s history. However, since September 11th, 2001 border security has increased from having a few hundred border agents to more than 2,000. Canadian and American travellers now need passports, tightening the border. Since 2001, United States has added aircraft with sensor arrays, thermal cameras, video surveillance, embedded sensors in roads and unmanned aircraft to keep a close eye on the remote areas. CCTV cameras triggered by sensors in the road record crossings in-between border stations. Towers supplied by Boeing are equipped with variety of sensors, including cameras, as well as heat and motion detectors. The towers dot the entire border from coast to coast. In addition, there are ‘eyes in the sky’, aerial patrols on both sides of the border. The RCMP uses helicopters and fixed wing aircraft as part of its aerial border patrol duties, while Blackhawk helicopters are used on the US side — their radar can detect moving vehicles and persons, and the sensors can track heat sources – including people – and transmit video imaging in real-time to border patrol agents. If suspicious activity is detected, officers are dispatched to investigate and apprehend intruders. Border officers have also expanded ways they patrol the border by using boats, SUVs, mountain bikes, snowmobiles, as well as foot and mounted patrols. In addition to all the technological gadgets, a $1.4 million budget from IBC (International Boundary Commission) is dedicated to keeping the cut line open. The open space itself is a powerful instrument of surveillance; making one feel exposed and constantly under close watch.
Barricade near Gretna, Manitoba Monument No 4, Tsawwassen, BC Surveillance equipment, Coutts, Alberta
all images courtesy of Andreas Rutkauskas
on site review 38: borders, lines, breaks and breaches 11
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