BORDERBLASTER
2012 - Borderblaster takes its name from the title given to radio stations that transmit their signals at very high power between nations (e.g. San Diego radio stations that broadcast from Tijuana). Unlike traditional "border blasters", this project localizes the transmission to urban micro-ecologies shaped by migration, sharing stories that reflect on social, cultural and political exchange across borders. |
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BORDERBLASTER (SD/TJ)
Commissioned as part of “Living as Form (the Nomadic Version)” at the UCSD University Art Gallery (UAG), this iteration of BorderBlaster focused on the junctures/disjunctures experienced at the San Ysidro Port of Entry during the process of crossing the border. It brought together the voices of vendors, artisans, artists, and activists in a series of conversations, readings, and interviews that reimagined cultural engagement at the crossing. The series was recorded and transmitted from inside of the Mercado de Artesanias de La Linea on 87.9 FM to cars, and using the “Mobile Listening Station” sculpture to pedestrians throughout the run of the exhibition. Transmissions included "About Crossing" -- stories and testimonies of migrants who crossed the border through the desert being read aloud by pedestrians waiting in line at the San Ysidro Port of Entry -- "Market Exchange" -- oral histories of merchants who work at the Mercado de Artesanías de la Linea, a market at the San Ysidro Port of Entry that has existed for over three generations and is currently in danger of disappearing as a result of renovations at the Port of Entry -- "Open Dialogue" -- an open mic featuring statements/proclamations to the border, musical performances by street musicians who play at the San Ysidro Port of Entry and a binational Son Jarocho group -- and "Mixtape for Crossing" -- a live-produced mix of songs for crossing produced by Gary Garay (GANAS), incorporating requests by vendors at the Mercado de Artesanias de La Linea and commuters waiting in line to cross the border. |
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BORDERBLASTER (SNA)
A second iteration of the project, developed as part of a residence at CSUF Grand Central Art Center, brought together a series of oral histories and interviews with local residents, artists, community leaders and business owners to reflect on the economic, social, and cultural dimensions of gentrification in Downtown Santa Ana. The project culminated in audio excursions with local residents, visitors and students that explored the history of the area, its ties to Mexican immigration and the physical/psychological divides caused by redevelopment and displacement. |