Somerville Couple Spins Donald Trump's Immigration Comments Into Art Installation

SOMERVILLE, MA – Donald Trump wants to build a wall. Maureen and Joe Barillaro think that's an excellent idea.

Although it's unlikely the Republican nominee would see eye to eye with the Somerville couple, who wants their wall to bring people together rather than keep them out.

The Barillaros came up with the idea for the wall, an art installation project on property they own in Orange, after watching videos that parodied Trump's comments. They decided to spin his words into a positive message.

"We wanted to use his same words, but make them come out in a way that would unite people," Maureen Barillaro told Patch. "It's a good distraction from the real political debate that's going on."

Both come from creative backgrounds – Maureen is a video editor and Joe is an artist whose murals adorn the walls of several Somerville parks – and wanted to take a more lighthearted approach to the vitriol. They launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund their project and spread the word to enthusiastic friends, neighbors and helping hands.

>>>Click here to contribute to the Barillaros' campaign

"We just love comedy so it was an opportunity to do something funny and entertaining," Maureen said. But, she says, the Kickstarter will end on Tuesday, because "hopefully Donald Trump will be old news come November 9."

The wall will be built using rocks and stones, and its size will depend on how much funding their campaign receives. They intend to install it on their property permanently as a reminder that something beautiful came out of the election.

But for Maureen and Joe, the ugliness of the campaign season is something they've taken in stride by maintaining their sense of humor.

"Donald Trump can say some very despicable things, but there is something humorous in his delivery," Maureen said. "It's easier to focus on the humorous part of it rather than the things he was saying."

Photo Credit: Maureen Barillaro