La Frontera - The Border: An Interdisciplinary Examination

Tanya Aguiniga, Natalia Anciso, Raul Baltazar, Nikki Darling, Luis G. Hernandez, Ingrid Levya, Richard Lou, Roy Martinez, Robert J. Sánchez

Co-curated by LakeLyn Bagge, Alondra Costilla, Tram Dang, Marcus Herse, Grace Jones, Kayla Quinlan, Hannah Scott

August 26 - November 17, 2019

Chapman University’s Guggenheim Gallery, Orange, CA

La Frontera- The Border: An Interdisciplinary Examination; Catalog

Ponsi, Lou. Chapman University hosts exhibits, panels, screenings to examine issues surrounding the border; Los Angeles Times, September. 6, 2019

This exhibition shows artworks, created around and influenced by the Mexico - U.S. border. The artists explore the implications of the physical border, which is at the same time informed by and feeding back into popular sentiment and psychological borders. From artivist aesthetics to personal histories, the ramifications of the border on the lives of the communities on both sides of it, as well as the broader political significance of this delineating landmark are under investigation. The term Border-Art is a young art historical category and dates back to the formation of the Border Art Workshop in 1984 with their conceptual works, performances and site-specific installations. While the group was active during the 1980's their initial impulse still resonates in the fabric of artist communities today. Considering recent political and humanitarian developments the border and its effects continue to be subjects of artistic inquiry.

During the opening reception visitors will have the opportunity to participate in the Mobile Consulate, a performance work by Omar Pimienta. To become a citizen of the Colonia Libertad bring an expired/voided passport and a photograph:

In the current political climate the concept of immigration and citizenship remains a label used to describe the others, enhancing the vulnerability of a population already susceptible to exploitation and abuse. Come partake in the Mobile Consulate, a participatory action art piece that emulates the bureaucratic practice of citizenship acquisition-renunciation. The Libre Consulate is installed for you to interchange your current passport (voided) for the Libre passport that grants you Colonia Libertad Citizenship. The Libre passport is created in situ, your photograph and your fingerprint are required for the process. Your current passport gets framed and becomes part of the Libre Citizens’ Archive. Be part of this beureaucrartistic performance and become part of a post-nation that believes that migration can itself be a form of citizenship. - Omar Pimienta