A collaborative project curated and organized by Nuestra Artist Collective.
Art Exhibit and events at Oak Cliff Cultural Center, 223 Jefferson Blvd, Dallas, TX 75208
Opening art reception: October 1, 6pm to 8pm, performance at 7pm
Mujeres Mercado/Market: October 15, 12pm to 5pm
Conchas y conversaciones: stories about immigration: October 21, 6:30pm to 8pm
Curatorial Statement:
"Fronteriza" is the first in a series of traveling exhibitions focused on women artists living in Texas who contemplate the U.S. Mexico border. The exhibit is curated by Dallas based Nuestra Artist Collective, founded in 2021 by Karla Garcia, Tina Medina and Eliana Miranda. Participating artists in the exhibit are Melissa Gámez-Herrera, Karla García, Sara Herrera, Tina Medina, Analise Minjarez, Eliana Miranda, Tesa Morin, Lupita Murillo Tinnen, and Sarita Westrup. Each artist brings a different perspective from uniquely personal experiences depicted in various media and techniques, such as ceramics, fibers, textiles, painting, drawing, photography, video, and performance.
The title "Fronteriza" reflects our conversations about being "of the border"-a broader concept that encompasses family heritage and cultural history. While some of the artists in the exhibition grew up in the Texas borderlands, others find border issues to be relevant in their work because of the proximity of Texas to Mexico. Many of the artists identify with the concept of Nepantla: a Nahuatl word that means, in between or in the middle of it. Mexican Americans often describe the experience of life in the US as living in the middle and not belonging fully to each culture. In this regard, we are experiencing life on the US side while being cognizant of what is happening along the border in relation to Mexico.
Nuestra Artist Collective focused on creating a platform that includes only women artists in order to support and empower the often-excluded voices of Xicana and Latina artists. As women we approach art and themes about the border in a collaborative way. The interconnectedness in our work includes aspects of the female perspective about our family history, culture, place, and politics. During the past year, we have been fortunate to experience group meetings with the artists in the exhibit. This was an opportunity for us to exchange thoughts, share information, and learn from each other. Throughout our studio visits we discussed cultural identity, family history, socio-political issues, the environment, migration, and immigration policies. We realized the border is not just a line separating two countries, but it is also a cultural entity that unites us and informs the art we make...
Contact Cristina Medina at cmedina@DallasCollege.edu with any questions.