Seeding Migration: Tierra a Tierra

The Monarch butterfly has famously become a symbol of migration for its travels throughout North America; from Canada, to the Western US, to Central Mexico. Considering the Monarchs’ population decline–as well as many other native wildlife–artists gene aguilar magaña and Dulce Soledad Ibarra will lead a workshop focusing on cyclical regeneration.

Utilizing locally excavated clay, participants will create seeding vessels in the shape of endangered or threatened wildlife with help from aguilar magaña and Ibarra. The clay vessels will serve as germination pods for Santa Cruz-native seeds suitable for the overwintering of Monarchs. In English, “tierra a tierra” can translate as both “earth to earth” and “land to land,” inciting the cyclical nature of the borrowed clay returned to the earth with seeds of migration, growth, and healing.

An open workshop with tools and materials will be provided and available from 11am-3pm on April 1, 2023 at the Lighthouse Field State Beach. All ages and abilities welcome.

Both born and raised in Southern California, aguilar magaña and Ibarra carry agricultural labor backgrounds in the Salina Valley via each of their maternal grandfathers' participation in the Bracero Program of 1942.

gene aguilar magaña is an interdisciplinary artist born in San Diego, raised in Norwalk, and based in Riverside, CA. Much of their work has evolved from their relationship to the land between Mexico and the US. Their practice reconsiders alternative possibilities of water and agricultural land modifications using 3D modeling, video and sculptural installations. Their installation work has been exhibited at The Mistake Room in Los Angeles, CA and their ceramic work has been exhibited at LBMA Downtown formerly known as Art Exchange in Long Beach, CA. aguilar magaña is currently a member of Los Angeles Community Art Mentorship Program (L.A. CAMP) working with students at Mann UCLA Community School and is the former president of the Dominguez Hills Art Collective. They received their B.A. in Studio Art from California State University Dominguez Hills.

Dulce Soledad Ibarra is a multidisciplinary artist, designer, educator, and curator with investments in community and identity-emphasized arts and opportunity. As a practicing artist, Ibarra discusses issues of generational guilt, identity, class, labor, displacement, and injustice in sculptures, videos, installations, performances, and participatory work. Looking through queer Xicanx perspective, the work is fueled by emotional labor, personal and cultural research and analysis. Currently, the work is centered around the aesthetics and resilience of the Piñata/Party Supply District of Downtown Los Angeles, engaging in the means of sustaining as a community of businesses and as a place of cultural familiarities and commodities. Ibarra has exhibited, screened, performed, and programmed at venues across California, including Angels Gate Cultural Center, Charlie James Gallery, Consulado General de México en Los Ángeles, Craft Contemporary, Human Resources Los Angeles, and Pieter Performance Space, among others. Ibarra holds an MFA from the University of Southern California and earned a BFA in Sculpture from California State University, Long Beach.

Part of the Refocusing Ecology Workshop Series, sponsored by the City Arts Recovery Design (CARD) Program of City of Santa Cruz.