More than 60 people attended the opening reception for the first exhibit of the semester, “Borderígena: Many Times Over,” last Tuesday in the Art Gallery at Rusteberg Hall on the Brownsville campus.
The exhibit features the work of Jesus De la Rosa, an associate art professor at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. The title of the show is inspired by the book, “The New World Border,” by Guillermo Gomez (City Light Books, 1996). In the book, Gomez defines Borderígena “as a citizen of the great border region of the Americas.”
“Sometimes, a river or mountain range will determine the boundary between peoples,” De la Rosa said in his artist statement. “Every so often, this borderline is only the ink of a line drawn by a man. My early life was devoted to daily traveling across the U.S.-Mexico border, ensuing from my parents working in Mexico and living in Texas.”
The exhibition consists of nine colorful two-dimensional works that derive from his insight of the Texas-Mexico landscape, where cultures, languages and identities constantly conflict and bind, according to De la Rosa.
“Both sides of the border depend on each other for economic stimulation,” he said. “Americans cross into Mexico for medical care at an affordable price, while Mexican nationals purchase items not found in Mexico from U.S. shopping centers.”
His work was selected to be part of the 12th annual Young Latino Artist Exhibition at the Mexic-Arte museum and Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center in Austin and part of the exhibition “Idols and Impossible Structures” at the International Print Center New York, according to De la Rosa’s website.
Gallery Coordinator Alejandro Macias said he tries to have a broad spectrum of artists.
Ar st Jesus De La Rosa (from le ) talks about his show, “Borderigena: Many Times Over,” with art senior Jesse Burciaga, art educa on junior Cecilia Guzman and architecture sophomore Roberto Zuniga last Tuesday during the rst art show of the fall semester at the Art Gallery at Rusteberg Hall on the Brownsville campus. Ana Cahuiche/The Rider Photos
“I really try to show artists that are practicing artists, contemporary artists that are successful at what they do,” Macias said. “I think his work is really good and I hope students get a little taste of what he does and maybe they can get something out of it.”
Macias said De la Rosa was a student at legacy institution UT-Brownsville back in the late 1990s but then transferred to Kingsville.
“It is great to have him back,” he said. “This is really refreshing to see, like, two-dimensional work that is painting and drawing and carving. It seems like it’s a really hands-on type of work and it’s extremely colorful. The palette is amazing.”
UTRGV Art Lecturer Patrick Fatica said the exhibition is excellent and liked the fact that the artist has a history in the Valley and at the university as a student.
“He is talking about his own near-death experience and how they’re kinda making me really think about what is important in life,” Fatica said.
The exhibition continues through Sept. 29. Admission is free. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and noon to 4 p.m. Friday.
For more information about future exhibitions or special accommodations, contact alejandro.macias@utrgv.edu.
