Damariz Damken is a self-taught multidisciplinary artivist whose work explores fronterizx landscapes and identity to reclaim and deconstruct border imaginaries as an approach to process the trauma and open wounds of our past as it exists in the present among us.
Born and raised on both sides of the US-Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, the subject matter of her work ranges in questions pertaining to reclaiming Frontera identity and traversing the esoteric and liminal spaces of (dis)embodied trauma, geography, memory, ritual, the subconcious, femininity, sexuality, longing, and violence that exists within their in-betweens.
CV
1997- McAllen, TX. USA
Currently Based in New York, NY/ Rio Grande Valley, TX (US-Mexico Border)
Education
B.A. Liberal Studies concentration in Politics, Rights and Development + Latin American Studies | New York University 2015-2019
Honors Thesis: The Art of Resistance- Drawing, Tracing, and Erasing Borders
Awards | Grants
2018 - Pulso de Aztlan for “Visualize Your Resistance” Art & Activism Campaign for Neta + Las Imaginistas | Rio Grande Valley, TX. USA
2018 - Dean's Global Research Grant, New York University
2015-2019 - Dean's List Honors, New York University
2019 - University Honors Scholar, New York University
2019 - Zake Morgan Memorial Award for Excellence and Originality in an Honors Thesis, New York University
2019 - Schwarzbach Global Impact Award, New York University
2019 - Social Impact Grant, New York University
Fellowships | Exhibitions
2018 - Sin Fronteras I, Exhibition + Fundraiser with ArtHoe Collective, Spicy Zine & Yellow Jackets Collective | 8 Ball Community, New York, NY. USA
2019 - EmergeNYC Performance Cohort, Hemispheric Institute of Performance and Politics | Abrons Art Center, New York, NY. USA
2019 - Desierto de Lagrimas/Desert of Tears, Durational Public Intervention | Grand Street Settlement Child & Family Center, New York, NY. USA
2019 - Alebrijx, Public Performance for EmergeNYC Works in Progress Showcase with Domenica Garcia| Abrons, Art Center, New York, NY. USA
2019 - Creator of Encuentro en la Frontera 3-Day Bi-National Art + Activism Festival | Rio Grande Valley, TX. USA
2019 - Exhibition Director + Co-Curator, Building Bridges of Solidarity | Carlotta K. Petrina Cultural Arts Center, Brownsville, TX. USA
2019 - Puño de Tierra, Site-Specific Public Intervention Performance | Brownsville-Matamoros International Port of Entry, Rio Grande River. MX-USA
2019 - Llevame al Rio, Performance for Decompose, In Honor of Our Roots Residency | Langston Hughes House, New York, NY. USA
2020 - Donde Desemboco, Reinsertion into Nature- Durational Performance | South Padre Island, TX. USA
2020 - Collage: Establishing New Realities Digital Exhibition, Limite Azul Virtual Gallery | Rio Grande Valley, TX. USA
2020 - Soledad, Limite Azul Virtual Gallery | Rio Grande Valley, TX. USA
2020 - No Me Pongan en lo Oscuro | Do Not Bury Me in Darkness Action No. 3 with Cuquita the Cuban Doll | Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY. USA
2020 - Printmaking & Fresco Mural Painting Residency with Espacio Pino Suarez, Escuela de Muralismo de Oaxaca, and Espacio Artistico Xicotencatl |
Oaxaca City, Oaxaca. Mexico
2022 - Trenzadas, Center for Performance Research | New York City, NY. USA
2022 - Alma de Barro, Center for Performance Research | New York City, NY. USA
Publications
Esferas Issue 9. Trazar el Archivo, "The Art of Resistance"
The Rational Creature Volume 5. The Displacement Issue
Performance Is Alive, "Review: Layers of Erasure"
Press
Neta RGV, "Neta Resistance Art: Pulso de Aztlan by Damariz Damken"
Texas Monthly, "‘We Exist, We Have Voices, We Have Stories’: A New Festival Confronts the Borderland’s Complexity"
The Monitor, "Encuentro en la Frontera Underway Throughout the Valley"
Brownsville Herald, "Encuentro en la Frontera To Be Held This Weekend Throughout the RGV"
Rice, Beans & Revolution Podcast- Episode 31
Fronteriz@ 360 Podcast- "Art, Activism, and La Llorona- Encuentro en La Frontera 2019" Episode 6