Join artist Tanya Aguiñiga for a discussion of fiber art as activism on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Fiber-centered interventions through performance, site-specific installation, community-based collaborations and object making have helped Aguiñiga and others voice the emotions felt at the edge of two cultures. In the face of injustice, fiber and textile techniques have been her companions in creating works of healing and empowerment.

In this virtual talk Aguiñiga unpacks the specifics of why fiber and textile-based materials have been the most effective conduit for her to bridge worlds at the border. She will discuss design thinking, give a brief history of art at the border and explore fiber works by other artists carried out at the border. Program participants will receive a guide to best practices for community engagement.

About Tanya Aguiñiga

Tanya Aguiñiga was born in San Diego, California, and raised in Tijuana, Mexico. An artist, designer and craftsperson, Aguiñiga works with traditional craft materials, such as natural fibers, and collaborates with other artists and activists to create sculptures, installations, performances and community-based art projects. Drawing on her upbringing as a binational citizen who crossed the border from Tijuana to San Diego daily for school, Aguiñiga’s work speaks to her experience of divided identity and aspires to tell the larger and often invisible stories of the transnational community.

How to Participate

To participate, register online to get a link and instructions for joining the program on Zoom. Simply follow that link at the time the event starts  (7 p.m. EDT). When you register, you can also request to receive a reminder email one day before the program with the link included.

About Contemporary Voices

Meet innovative artists and scholars whose practice draws on textile materials, techniques or knowledge. This series is presented in partnership with the Textile Society of America and is supported through the museum’s Cynthia and Alton Boyer Fund for Education. Browse upcoming programs

Photo by Gina Clyne