Hypermodernism thru the eyes of a binational photographer. Two countries, three states, two cities merged into one persona. Traveling thru countries is an everyday thing when living in a diverse border town full of color, flavor and a distinctive separation; photographing it becomes necessary to capture as much as possible to bring the hypermodernism of ones eye.

"We hope whoever becomes president builds more bridges instead of walls [because] we are sister cities, divided only by the river."

In Building Bridges, Not Walls at the US - Mexico Border from PKN Tokyo Vol 134, PechaKucha Night El Paso City Organizers (and acclaimed architects) William Helm and Edgar Lopez describe the symbiotic relationship of the sister cities of El Paso and Juarez. The residents of the two cities activate a third space of the US/Mexico border, called "Pass of the North"  which produces a rich milieu of creativity, art and culture. In this place which was historically known as "Paso del Norte" along the Spanish road from Mexico City to Santa Fe, the two cities have come together to use the PechaKucha conversation to bridge across the border. 20 x 20 x 2 cities = building bridges not walls.

"These were vehicles of economic mobility."

In The El Paso Transnational Trolley Project from PechaKucha Night El Paso Vol. 13, Peter Svarzbien shares his project to get El Paso's trolleys running again as they did in their heyday. Svarzbien is a photographer, artist and now city Councilman of El Paso. He once imagined the historic streetcars returning to the streets of El Paso again with his MFA masters thesis "The El Paso Transnational Trolley Project." Several years later, this project no longer resides only in our imaginations as the first tracks are now being laid in the streets of El Paso for the new streetcar line. With El Paso's first streetcar line in many years now under construction Peter is not content to stop here, but is now gathering political support to push for the restoration of trolley service over the international bridge - reconnecting Juarez and El Paso's fabled international streetcar service. Peter's presentation inspires us to consider how art can operate on a grand city scale to improve our quality of life. 

This was "PechaKucha of the Day" on Wednesday, July 20th, 2016. 

Juarez photographer El Minino shares his recent portrait project documenting practisiing artists throughout Juarez.  El Minimo almost exclusively captures his images on film which requires him to slow down and conneect with his subjects as he shoots.

Juarez based phtotographer Jose Mirales Reyes presents a touching photographic project in which he aims to capture the spirit of the border through portraits of couples who get married in collective weddings.

Visual artist, filmmaker and photographer Alejandra Aragon explores the relationship between violence, gender and identity through her work.  Based in Juarez, Mexico, Alejandra's exploration of gender through her photography begins with a series of autobiographic work before revealing the exploitation of women and victims of femicide in the border region.

Evelyn Oz presents the work of ANS Border Gallery, a group of urban artists from Ciudad Juarez making artistic interventions in the fabric of their border city.

Inge Panneels gives an overview of artists who ‘map the borders’. 

“CIMI” Alvarado is an El Paso, Texas native, and began his artistic career experimenting with graffiti art.  Following his studies under Gaspar Enriquez at Bowie High School, Cimi delved into public art projects, which often included educational components and community involvement.  His efforts have included an intensive, ongoing mural education program in Dallas, Texas; two full-scale murals created with students from the El Paso, Texas Juvenile Detention Center; and two large murals depicting the history and culture of El Paso, Texas.  Cimi’s recent public works involved community brainstorming, input, and inspiration through both community meetings and written, anonymous surveys.  Cimi’s artwork has been featured in shows in Mexico City; Buenos Aires, Argentina; the El Paso Museum of Art; the University of Arkansas at Little Rock; and Cd. Juarez, Mexico - “Binational Art Exhibit” Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes.