Patricia Vázquez Gómez new exhibition examines "transgression of borders"
September 27, 2019
A new exhibition by MA in Critical Studies professor Patricia Vázquez Gómez, BorderXer, opens Friday, September 27 at Paragon Arts Gallery. The exhibition promises "visual inquiries into the transgression of borders both geographic and personal" by Vázquez Gómez with garima thakur, Fabian Romero, Daniel Coka and Emilio Rojas.
The opening reception is on Friday, September 27 from 5-8pm, with a presentation by the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition at 6pm.
Public programming continues with a printmaking workshop making pro-immigrant posters and propaganda by Patricia Vázquez Gómez and Thea Ghar on Saturday, October 26 from 12 – 3pm. The exhibition closes with a conversation featuring garima thakur, Daniel Coka and Patricia Vázquez Gómez on crossing physical, social, psychological, emotional and artistic borders to be held on Saturday, November 2, 2019 from 12 – 2pm. All events are free and open to the public.
There are many forms of crossing, of stepping over boundaries, of exploding the limits that restrict our movements, affections, talents, knowledge and dreams. BorderXers are the animals that move freely through the territory that sustains them. BorderXers are those who thrive over tyrannic gender rules. BorderXers are those who love despite heteronormative prescriptions. BorderXers are migrants and refugees looking for dignity. BorderXers are those choosing life over death. BorderXer is any body who has refused to be subdued, reduced, broken, or fragmented.
Every time you step into forbidden territory you cross a border. Every time you challenge oppression you cross a border. Every time you defy an inhumane law you cross a border. In a system that threatens to take away our individual and collective lives and spirits, becoming a BorderXer is not only necessary, but inescapable.
What borders do you still have to cross?
What would it take for you to cross them?
— Patricia Vázquez Gómez