The American Dream Lives On at THE BORDER
Installation view (with lights off) of Border #1.
Long lauded a “country of immigrants”, America persists as a nation where strivers the world over can come to make themselves internationally known in their field. This holds true in the visual arts as well, and now there is a gallery in Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood that focuses specifically on showcasing immigrant artists who live and work in the US. That gallery is THE BORDER, opened in early Spring 2018 at 56 Bogart Street by artist and publisher Jamie Martinez. “THE BORDER is here to create a nurturing environment for immigrant and non-immigrant artists alike to create a dialogue around their work. Reflecting the best of American diversity, THE BORDER will be open to everyone.”
A great idea for any point in time, but particularly now during this fraught political moment when immigration is a hot-button issue, THE BORDER takes an activist, immigration-forward position in a world gone off the rails. Nationalism and closed borders have taken precedent, from Brexit to the Border Wall, and Martinez isn’t having it. “Throughout history, immigrants and the children of immigrants have played an invaluable role in shaping the face of the nation through an endless list of contributions and accomplishments,” notes Martinez. “The United States is a country built upon the embrace of blending cultural traditions, and nearly every citizen has been born out of the precedent of immigration from around the world.”
Installation view of Border #1.
Why wouldn’t this capacity for innovation and achievement extend to the art world itself? Though immigrant artists are frequently welcomed in America and, in fact, some` artists live a global nomadic lifestyle, Martinez wanted to use THE BORDER as an opportunity to celebrate a contingent of artists who migrate to America as a means of enriching this great nation. He notes that the space is a safe haven, “for artists of diverse backgrounds to come together and present a united voice in support of multiplicity.”
THE BORDER’s first exhibition, simply titled The Border #1, features work by artists Peter Kaspar, C.J. Chueca, Levan Mindiashvili, Aphrodite Desiree Navab, and Martinez himself. Spanning sculpture, painting, mixed media and new media/technology, the works themselves reflect the rich tapestry of styles and formats that diverse artists bring to the art world in the US. Cleverly re-constructed sculptures of everyday detritus by C.J. Chueca populate the space, while architectural reimaginings by Mindiashvili inspire reflection and question our understanding of memory and lived history. Navab’s organic abstractions hypnotize in black and white and Kaspar’s entrancing mixed-media light artwork adds a spark of wonder. Martinez’ abstract triangle configurations are broken up by fluorescent fiber-optic tubes, creating impossible borders of their own.
Installation view of The Border #1.
Artist and Curator Katya Grokhovsky is curating Out of Control, a live performance event exploring migration, isolation and the elusive search for the American dream. Out of Control is a two-hour event at THE BORDER gallery taking place from 4-6 pm on Sunday, April 22nd. The event features seven female artists exploring themes related to immigration in line with THE BORDER’s mission and purposes; participating artists include Deborah Castillo, Katya Grokhovsky, Kathy Halfin with Emma Yi and Sierra Ortega, Yali Romagoza and Priscilla Marrero. RSVP for the event here.
Kathie Halfin performance, part of Out of Control curated by Katya Grokhovksy at The Border (Sun 4/22 from 4-6 pm). Image courtesy of the artist.
Stay tuned for more visual arts, performance, and interdisciplinary events at this art space in 56 Bogart celebrating the best of what makes art in America great.
