THE ART OF BROWNSVILLE - COMMENTS

The ArtsReach program got approved by the Dean! YAY! Below I have pasted a copy of the proposal. Again, this is only a proposal and not an actual finalized action plan, but it's a vision in it's rawest form so enjoy!

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We are two students from Brownsville, Texas who would like to give back to the art community of our hometown. Brownsville’s culture and history is a wellspring of artistic inspiration. We envision a program that would promote awareness about Brownsville’s history and identity, a culture in constant evolution through the dialogue between Mexico and the United States. Issues like immigration, trade, cultural exchange, economy, and education clamor for attention from Brownsville residents. The recent boom of corporate and suburban development has swelled the pride and economy of Brownsville and its residents. Yet this becomes problematic if this new pride homogenizes understanding of Brownsville only as a growing commercial center, and not as a unique reservoir of culture and history. We feel this is the local art community’s opportunity to reignite interest in these issues.

We propose to strike a match through a community Artsreach program. It would involve direct communication with residents using art as a platform for cultural awareness. Our current plan is to organize an exhibition in a popular, high-traffic location in Brownsville such as the mall, with a final reception to be held in a local museum. It’s an event tentatively titled “Fronteras Cruzadas” (crossed frontiers/borders). We plan to contact local arts institutions and groups to help support the event. We believe local historians and anthropologists will also be invaluable resources for ideas and further understanding of the phenomenon of cultural assimilation.