El Paso Museum of Art and the Institute of Fine Arts (INBA) of Cd. Juarez, Receive – U.S. Mexico Cross Border Innovation and Cooperation Award

The El Paso, Texas Museum of Art and the Institute of Fine Arts Museum (INBA) of Cd. Juarez received the U.S.-Mexico Cross Border Innovation and Cooperation Award from the Woodrow Wilson Center, Mexico Institute, in collaboration with the Colegio de la Frontera Norte and the North American Center for Transborder Studies.  The two institutions were recognized and awarded for promoting the arts and culture, and creating closer ties between the sister cities during the Border Governors’ Conference, held in Ensenada, B.C. on September 28 and 29.

Both museums have worked closely in organizing the Border Art Biennial in 2008 and 2010, a multidisciplinary exhibit that includes resident artists from both sides of the border.

Rosa Elva Vazquez, Cd. Juarez INBA Director, stated that “A Cultural Crossroads” issued the announcement to get artists from El Paso, Texas and Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua, to participate in the Border Art Biennial, first in 2008 and again in 2010.

El Paso Museum of Art Director, Michael Tonor, noted that, the 43 artists who participated were selected from a group of 350.

A total of 96 pieces were exhibited simultaneously between November 19, 2010 through March 20, 2011, at the El Paso Museum of Art and the Multi Use Gallery, at the Paso Del Norte Cultural Center, in Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua.  At the time, the Cd. Juarez Museum of Art was headquartered at the Cultural Center due to restoration work.

“The theme was open, but subjects related to migration, drug trafficking and violence were prevalent.  The reality of the artists is reflected in their work,” said Rosa Elva Vazquez.

“It’s very interesting because they tell us what’s happening on the border,” added Mr. Tonor, Director of the El Paso Museum of Art.

The Border Art Biennial was created as a desire to establish a dialogue through fine art and give voice to border artists, inviting them to express themselves with color, form, volume, including sound and movement.

Tonatiuh Guillen, President of Colegio de la Frontera Norte, stated that this was the first time this award had been presented and highlighted that it was among fifty projects that had been reviewed. In addition to this award, for “A Culture of Crossroads” carried out by the El Paso Museum of Art and INBA of Cd. Juarez,  other projects that were awarded include: “Environmental Education Without Borders,” by the Environmental Education Bio-Regional Project (PROBEA), and the Border Environmental Education Project (PFEA), the Border Master Plan of the State of Baja California and CALTRANS, and the “Regional Cooperation Through Global Education,” carried out by the students of the University of Arizona.

The President of COLEF stated it was a very difficult decision for the judges (BECC General Manager, Maria Elena Giner was one of the judges), which was comprised of U.S. and Mexico shareholders, knowledgeable on border dynamics, given that there were many excellent projects.  “We have been able to observe what is happening on a daily basis along our shared border,” he added.

Governor Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan presented the awards; also in attendance were other governors and representatives from the Border States who attended the conference, as well as former California Senator, Denise Moreno Ducheny.