Art Event #1: More than a Fence…

"More Than a Fence: (de) Constructing Mexico-U.S. Borders", is a multimedia installation of photography, sculpture, and texts in the Kellogg library at CSUSM. This installation displays various pictures of the border, sculptures, and objects that made the place interactive to the viewer. It encourages the audience to think about the Mexico-U.S. border and to reflect on it’s purpose.

My favorite(s) art piece was the compilation of the “Loteria”. La loteria is a Mexican game of chance similar to Bingo. In a traditional loteria there are four rows of four images with a name and a number assigned to it. The names are called from the deck with images and who ever fills the board first shouts “Loteria!” I think that it is very interesting the concept of having different images from the border to be represented in a game of chance. The way they named the pictures is very similar to the original loteria like “el soldado” (the soldier), “la botella” (the bottle), “el abrazo” (the hug), but the images are so powerful that it is kind of upsetting. I cannot begin to imagine the kind of experiences that the contributors of the exhibit had and the kind of impact their work is having on their viewers.

I believe that it is important that art shows like this one are shown more frequently, specially in

public places like a school library because brings awareness of the problems on the border to other people that don’t have a clue about it. This art event makes the topic matter.

Who: 

Kendra Dyanne Rivera, Photography

CJ Rivera, Photography

Kristin Moss, Co-Curator

Melanie Chu, Co-Curator

David Avalos, Student and guest coordinator

Pam Calore, Guest artist

Maria Teresa, Guest artist

…and more

Where: CSUSM Kellogg Library, Third Floor.

When:  The exhibit is on display from September 18 to December 18. I attended the event on September 19.

Visit: http://www.csusm.edu/news/topstories/articles/2013/09/Fence.html

The Visitor (2007)

Last week I watched “The Visitor.” This is a film that involves music with connections to people. The djembe or African drum was the instrument that allowed Walter (the main character of the film) to overcome internal issues, but also allowed to have a connection to different people. Walter’s friendship with Syrian “illegal” immigrant Tarek taught him lessons about life. 

One scene that I liked was when Tarek takes Walter to the park, where a large group of people performs. In this scene I could sense that there is freedom and joy on their faces, on their movements. For a moment they are transported to another environment… but when everything’s over, they have to go back to real life and their problems. This film has a sad ending but very realistic to everyday events.

News from Baja California: A Resurgence of Traditional Arts -Mike Wilken

“For thousands of years before their lands were divided by two imperial powers, Native people moved freely throughout this area, linked by cultural, social, and economic ties.”

Wilken’s article about native Californians is very interesting and informative. I find fascinating the fact that the natives of the area are still producing beautiful art objects; objects that they use in their everyday life. These artisans are doing something very important in their tribes and communities. They are passing on their knowledge to a new generation.

In today’s society there are so many things that change every day and things evolve. People seem to change as time goes and certain practices in culture get lost. Wilken talks about how elder members of the tribes take their time and are patient to teach younger individuals about cooking, healing, language, music, dance, and gaming. Taking the time and effort to teach others is not easy nowadays and it is very admirable what these people are doing.

"My Family" (1995)

“My Family” is a film that shares one of the many similar stories that immigrant families live when searching for the “American dream” in the United States. When Jose and Maria begin their family they go through many hardships, including the deportation of pregnant Maria, who was a mother of two children already and a U.S. citizen. Two years after she finds her way back home with Chucho, her two-year-old son. Chucho is a very important character in the story of this family. Chucho grows up to be a pachuco or a zoot-suit who gets in trouble and his decisions and outcomes affect the lives of everyone in his family. 

The story in this movie is not so different from real life situations in the United States with the Mexican-American population. “MY Family” it’s a clear representation of many Mexican-American families; this film shows their culture, religion, food, music, socioeconomic status and the love for each other despite the hardships. Love for their family is what kept them going. 

Even thought this film is not base on a real story, it is based on real events. When California was once part of Mexico, many Mexican families lived peacefully in their humble houses and worked on their land. When the territory became U.S. grounds, then these families lost sense of belonging. In moments like those, it's when family and love bring hope and contentment.

"Frida" (2002)

After watching “Frida” for the third time, I want to say that this film never stops amusing me. There are different aspects about Frida’s life that makes her biography worth of a movie. Her story is so inspiring and admirable. She was not only an incredible artist, but also a strong woman who was able to fight and overcome hard situations in life. 

What I really like about this film was the way the director portrayed Frida’s and Diego’s love for each other. Often times, the biographies of artists stray as a plain 2D story with a list of events, achievements and fails. This film went deeper and made me think about not only the art of both artist, but the love they had for each other and how this affected their art, lives and decisions.

I would recommend this film to anyone; specially the ones who believe are having a hard time with life.