The exhibit is made up of art works and scene-setting objects as well as documentary material that refer to historic events.
The curators explained that "Dark Work" begins with the moment when the city defined itself as an urban settlement in 1889, and advances from there to being a place on the border and all the realities that comes with it, mythical or real.
The 137 pieces range from postal stamps that were produced at the end of the 19th century, when California was emerging as a sun-splashed, hedonistic tourist destination that offered the experience of "Old Mexico" south of the border, to the first artistic expressions, the binational collectives, the colorful world of avenida Revolución, the murals, the paintings of Baja California and the boom sparked by Nortec, among others.
After thorough research, the curators selected the artists and pieces that illustrated most clearly the city's artistic, social, urban and economic growth.
"We saw the city as an animal not easily tamed, that moved continually, but an animal whose tail and head you could hold at the same time, something that doesn't happen in other cities because of the historical period," Dávila said. "Most of this city's pioneers and protagonists are still alive."
That's why 70 percent of the works in the show were loaned directly by the artists who created them, while 20 percent were acquired from collectors and the rest from museums.
"I thought the idea for this show was great," said Mely Barragán, a sculptor who has a piece in the exhibit from her "Golden Boy " series. "I'm excited to be participating with other artists and to have this dialogue, which also gives us a chance for our work to be appreciated in our own home."
The curators said they hoped to create a connection between art produced locally and the audience that sees the exhibit, that the combination of history and social context encourages the community to see art as important.
"With the city is continuous movement," Dávila added. "Memory and a sense of belonging are hard to achieve."
[sidebar]Historic exhibit
"Dark Work" ("Obra negra") will be exhibited at El Cubo gallery of the Centro Cultural Tijuana (Cecut) from March 18 through July.
The show includes lectures and receptions with the artists, and there will be a video library, where visitors can see the visual culture of the city.
More information is available in Spanish at the center's site, www.cecut.gob.mx.
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