(C) El Paso Matters.org This story was originally published by El Paso Matters.org and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . More than 100 years of El Paso, Juárez music showcased in exhibit [1] ['Emmanuel Rivas Valenzuela', 'More Emmanuel Rivas Valenzuela', 'El Paso Matters', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width'] Date: 2024-04-26 Over the years, musicians across El Paso and Ciudad Juárez have used their songs to reflect on the culture of the border or the political and social turmoil of a given era. The El Paso Museum of History captures these moments in Borderland music history in its newest exhibit, “Musica in Fronteras: Twentieth Century to Now.” The exhibit, Spanish for “music without borders,” opens Saturday, April 27, and will feature vinyl records, record players, musical equipment and written and oral testimonials, which will be headlined by a projection screen playing various music clips stretching back to the early 1900s. Among the items on display will be music sheets dating back to 1910, a drum set used by Bobby Fuller, original lyrics by Jim Ward and one of Khalid’s platinum records donated by the Khalid Foundation. The memorabilia are on loan from artists and music fans from both Ciudad Juárez and El Paso. Michael Reyes, curator of the El Paso Museum of History, carries a guitar that will be displayed in the new “Música Sin Fronteras” exhibit. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters) From the El Paso Matters Archives: 91 Years of El Paso Music History “The interactive component is incredibly important and incredibly fulfilling for so many in the community,” curator Michael Reyes said. “I think it is a trend that a lot of national institutions are very nervous to take the first step and partake, and I am really proud that we’ve done it,” he said. “It is a lot of work, but it’s incredibly fulfilling, and it really gives validation to so many individuals with this approach.” By sharing memorabilia, music and stories provided by the community, the museum expects stronger attendance and engagement from the public, El Paso Museum of History Director Erica Marin said. “Everyone could relate to it,” Marin said. “Everyone could come in and say, ‘Hey, I want to lend you all this for the exhibition. I want to share my oral history.’ In this case, everyone relates to music. Every single person from all walks of life.” The exhibit is the endgame of over a year’s worth of research and curating that started with the “Low & Slow: Lowrider Culture on the Border” exhibit that ran from November 2020 to July 2021. The exhibit explored Chicano identity across the Borderland. “Musica Sin Fronteras” explores these moments in Chicano history through musical talents such as the Pachucos. The group gained popularity in Los Angeles but originated in El Paso in the 1940s. This moment in United States history was juxtaposed by musical groups like Los Chucos, Las Hermanas Mendoza and El Paso’s own Don Tosti. The group was widely politicized for embracing Mexican and Native cultures in language, social interactions and, most notably, their way of dressing – something the exhibit is not shy about showcasing. “I do touch base on various complexities that music plays,” Reyes said. “Not even four miles away, our sister city is going through a revolution due to discrepancies within their socioeconomic reality. A lot of our text panels talk about the complexities that we’re going on here in El Paso during (the 20th century).” The museum faced challenges when trying to obtain items from Ciudad Juárez, including those involving “El Divo” himself, the legendary singer-songwriter Juan Gabriel. “It has been a little difficult, especially kind of in the older generations,” said Reyes. “People carry their histories within themselves, and sometimes they are scared to lend it, which is okay.” “A big thing we wanted to really include was Juan Gabriel,” he added. “It is kind of hard to find ephemera of his own stuff. But people still come full force.” The history museum obtained keepsakes from fans of Juan Gabriel in both Ciudad Juárez and El Paso. Marin voiced similar difficulties in searching for items from Ciudad Juárez but reiterates that several items were made available for the music. “We feature bands like Los Frontera and Los Seven Teens,” said Marin. “(These are) bands that were really important and really integral in the 1960s and 1970s that are still part of the landscape today.” In accumulating memorabilia, Reyes uncovered a unique sense of community within El Paso that wasn’t found elsewhere. Listen: Former El Paso Matters reporter René Kladzyk curated this 45-song playlist tracing El Paso music over more than nine decades “Everyone that I did an oral history of, I asked, ‘Hey, did you experience any disparities or any kind of prejudice biases (outside El Paso)?’” said Reyes. “They spoke of a few, but everyone spoke about the camaraderie and assistance that everyone uplifts here in the (El Paso) music scene,” Reyes continued. “They said every time they left El Paso, it was never like that. It was incredibly disparaging. So, it was beautiful and heartwarming to hear that even within various genres, everybody supported each other in every way.” The “teenager’s bedroom” display in the El Paso Museum of History’s “Musica Sin Fronteras” exhibit. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters) Erica Marin, director of the El Paso Museum of History, sorts CDs for the new exhibit. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters) The El Paso Museum of History’s “Música Sin Fronteras” exhibit opens April 27. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters) Michael Reyes, curator of the El Paso Museum of History, carries a guitar that will be displayed in the new “Música Sin Fronteras” exhibit. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters) Michael Reyes, left, and Carlos Espinoza unpack a guitar for the “Música Sin Fronteras” exhibit. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters) “Música Sin Fronteras” features Borderland music memorabilia. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters) A partial timeline shows significant dates in Borderland music history. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters) A boom box and a t-shirt from local artist Khalid are on display at the El Paso Museum of History’s “Música Sin Fronteras.” (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters) Cassettes and compact discs from local bands will be on display. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters) Band tees fill a corner of the “Música Sin Fronteras” exhibit. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters) A timeline highlights Khalid’s work. (Corrie Boudreaux/El Paso Matters) When asked what people should take away from “Musica Sin Fronteras,” Reyes said, “That their histories and their stories are valid, and that they all belong within an institution.” Meanwhile, Marin states that the community can always use some joy. “I think we have a lot that that’s happening right now in the world and sometimes we need a little bit of joy and a little bit of unifying subject matter,” said Marin. “Musica Sin Fronteras: 20th Century to Now” opens at 5 p.m. Saturday at the El Paso Museum of History, 510 N. Santa Fe St. It will remain open until April 2025. Admission is free. [END] --- [1] Url: https://elpasomatters.org/2024/04/26/el-paso-history-museum-borderland-music-exhibit-things-to-do/ Published and (C) by El Paso Matters.org Content appears here under this condition or license: Creative Commons CC BY-ND 4.0 International. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/elpasomatters/