CALEXICO — The Border Institute of Contemporary Arts has partnered with San Diego State University Imperial Valley’s Steppling Art Gallery to host its inaugural exhibition, LINEAPART, featuring the innovative works of Jesús Corral, president of the newly formed BICA.
The collaboration with SDSU marks a pivotal first step for BICA’s commitment to enriching the local cultural landscape. The support of the SDSU Steppling Art Gallery proved instrumental in providing a professional platform for the Imperial Valley’s importance in art to grow.
LINEAPART features a collection of artworks created by Corral using mixed ink techniques on paper. He explained that the emphasis he placed on lines throughout his art pieces came from understanding how lines and other elements shape mental boundaries and connections, as well as physical ones that impact the community directly.
“Especially here in the border town region, the linework is important, the border between Mexicali and Calexico is just one line separating us,” said Corral. “All my work is inspired by the stories and the journeys of the border culture we have.”
One of the biggest artworks showcased by Corral, titled UNDERNEATH THE CITY, represents one of Mexicali’s biggest cultural centers: La Chinesca, Mexicali’s own Chinatown. La Chinesca was formed at the end of the 19th century due to an influx of Chinese migrants traveling to the United States. Many migrants stayed in Mexicali and formed businesses connected by underground tunnels and pathways.
“To pay homage to the Chinesca’s impact on Mexicali’s culture, I kept the theme of linework, but I was inspired by the strokes of Chinese calligraphy,” said Corral.
SDSU Imperial Valley Dean Dr. Guillermina Gina Nuñez, was appreciative of Corral bringing art experiences and opportunities to the campus’ students.
“Art is art, it can bring young people, middle-aged age, seniors, it doesn’t matter what age you are, it can bring people together that’s what I appreciate about Jesus’ work, art transcends languages, age barriers, educational barriers, art can bring people together,” Nuñez said.
Corral has also collaborated with the city of El Centro and Calexico to host workshops to spread the knowledge and skill of creating art which he describes as, “The desire to share the enjoyment of art and demonstrate the process of creating an art piece in a practical and simple manner.”
BICA’S Purpose and Local Support
Corral established the nonprofit organization with the dedication to foster creativity and provide a platform for local artists. BICA seeks to directly support artists through its annual residency program.
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BICA welcomes three talented artists each year to join a four-month residency with the non-profit to foster artistic innovation and cultural exchange within Calexico. The artists are provided with the necessary time, space and resources to create and exhibit their work.
For the first two months, artists are tasked with creating their artwork, with an initial orientation week to familiarize themselves with the space, local culture, and resources. For the third month, artists exhibit their works to the public and feature a variety of ways to engage with the community through artist talks, workshops, and guided tours to engage the community. The fourth and final month is dedicated to resetting the space for the next residency.
“The inspiration behind BICA was to plant a seed of culture that could cultivate into a platform that can honor the practice of our border-town artists,” explained Corral.Any artists interested in the residency program can apply directly at BICA’s website.
