JESSICA M. ALBA
BORDERLANDS REGION, 2022 - 2023
Jessica M. Alba (she/her) is a visual artist who was born in Douglas, Arizona, and graduated from Cochise College this year with an Associate's Degree in Fine Arts. She works in acrylics, sculpture, digital art, and jewelry-making. She is also an aspiring writer currently working on completing her first novel. As a Mexican woman, her pursuit of art and writing is often seen as a useless hobby, and not as something that could give her a real livelihood, so she has dedicated her life and work to proving that art and literature are vital to any community.
Jessica is in the early stages of developing a magazine for teenagers and young adults in her community. By collaborating with local artists, writers, and organizations, Jessica is using the magazine to bring attention to important topics that often go unaddressed locally such as the experiences of LGBTQ+ community members, migration issues, and reproductive care. Jessica will be distributing the magazine at Douglas Public Library, Bisbee Library, and Cochise College Library.
CULTURE HUB
Border Arts Corridor (BAC) is a nonprofit organization, committed to serving both Douglas and its sister city across the border. BAC began as a series of small outdoor art experiences on G Avenue, the major street in downtown Douglas. This ultimately grew into a bi-national Artwalk, then an arts service organization, creating opportunities for artists on the border. BAC is proud to focus on creating art with and for the Douglas and Agua-Prieta communities, bringing together artists of national stature with the artists living and working on the border. As nationally recognized artists have begun to interface with the community through BAC, it has cultivated a sense of pride and community self-esteem. At the same time, investment in the artists already living and working on both sides of the border here has strengthened a sense of self and civic engagement for residents.