Written by artist, writer, and 2nd year MFA Candidate, Lola Victor.
As part of my MFA project, I have undertaken the creation of a manifesto for The TRANSBorder Project, an international creative movement that I dreamt into a reality.
TRANSBorder stands for Together Rising Above Non Sensical Borders.
The idea of forming The TRANSBorder Movement stemmed from a combination of factors: my concern for current policy; my interest in uncovering my ancestral lineage; my task of remembering my personal history; my desire for peacefully existing in my current geographical location.
All of these facets of my life and personality lead me to encounter and contemplate daily both the beauty and challenges of consciously living and working in a bi-national region, that of San Diego/Tijuana. One that is both deeply misunderstood, poorly-navigated, and divisively communicated about.
The TRANSBorder movement exists as an umbrella for which projects that are named under are linked, and not limited, by sharing a common goal of connecting people. To expand the success of this movement into reality, as a part of my MFA project at CIIS I decided to write a manifesto that outlines and establishes the values of the TRANSBorder Movement. The goal in writing this manifesto is to create a written document to which TRANSBorder creators, organizations, initiative, and networks can agree on, and use in the development of projects personally and professionally.
The possibilities of growth for The TRANSBorder Movement are as infinite as the skills and gifts of each TRANSBorder individual.
Our most recent project was an International Music Festival called Nahual, which brought local, national, and international DJS and music-lovers together on the sand in Baja, Mexico for sound and surf.
We are continuing our work by actively authoring a TRANSBorder book, facilitating components of Catalyzing Communities For A Regenerative World at Casa Werma, of as well as working on the release of a TRANSBorder musical album in collaboration with Nick Spivak, international music producer and founder of LolaRadio.
Although TRANSBorders is not specifically tied to one geographical location (which is intentional), and it does not propose any grand solutions or policies for ending the constructed barriers between US-Mexico, or of all borders, it does embody visions for future TRANSBorder projects. These projects are dreamed of in all sizes and timelines, and will engage people from international populations in creative collaborations for connection.
Below is the most current draft of The TRANSBorder Manifesto:
The TRANSBorder Manifesto
TRANSBorder = Together Rising Above Non Sensical Borders
- Connection is the Goal
- Creation is the Method
- Collaboration is the Tool
- Relationship is the Catalyst
- Community is the Incubator
- Experience is the Expansion
AND if you’re interested, here are examples of awesome creative initiatives, like TRANSBorder, which involve multi-national people in creative work but focus specifically on working within US-Mexico:
Mural De La Hermandad has recently gained international acclaim and exposure for bringing together people to paint the Mexico side of the US-Mexico border wall (painting the border wall inside the USA has been made illegal.)
Bread & Salt is a community-oriented contemporary art space that also hosts repeat performances on both sides of the border.
Casa del Tunnel was built in a discovered tunnel dug beneath the US-Mexico Border and since has been turned into a community art space and contemporary gallery.
INSITE was founded in 1992 as a bi-national institute focusing on art in the public sphere. They have housed over 250 residencies, projects, and performances in both the USA and Mexico. Most recently, they announced the launch of a quarterly digital publication as their newest format.
