PARA/normal Borders Podcast

Albert’s art explores themes of cultural identity, personal history, and the intersection of the ordinary and extraordinary. He creates immersive, interactive experiences that provoke thought and spark conversation. In this episode, Albert reflects on his childhood memories of Tijuana in the 1980s and compares them to his visits in 2009-2010, a period when the city was ravaged by cartel violence and over 1,100 homicides in 2010 alone. This stark contrast offers a powerful backdrop to the Mexicali Biennial exhibition at Casa del Túnel, adding deeper context to his work.

Join us for an insightful conversation with Albert Lopez Jr. as he shares his creative journey, the evolution of his art, and the powerful stories behind his pieces. The PARA/normal Borders Podcast is made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation. Join us for more amazing content from the Mexicali Biennial! https://mexicalibiennial.org/  / mexicalibiennial    / mexicali-biennial-100071624199822  https://linktr.ee/mexicalibiennial Visit Albert Lopez Jr. at https://www.albertlopezjr.com/ and Instagram @tacosalamicroonda Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more episodes! #ParanormalBordersPodcast#AlbertLopezJr#ContemporaryArt#SantaAna#Tijuana#MexicaliBiennial#ArtAndViolence#ArtisticJourney#OCMA#CulturalIdentity

Fred Blanco is a seasoned performer with extensive experience in improv, stand-up comedy, theater, and theme park entertainment. As the artistic director of Little Big Stage Productions, Fred has captivated audiences with his extraordinary one-man shows, including “The Stories of Cesar Chavez” and “A Christmas Carol.” Wildcat Jackson, his alter ego, is the self-proclaimed monarch of the West, known for his silly yet edgy brand of comedy magic. This bargain-basement Buffalo Bill Cody entertains with a vaudeville-style show that promises a memorable good time.

In this episode, Fred shares his experiences growing up in California’s San Fernando Valley. He delves into his encounters with the paranormal, revealing how they influenced his creative journey. We also explore the making of “Talking with the Spirits” and the inspiration behind Wildcat Jackson’s character. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation filled with humor, history, and a touch of the supernatural!

The PARA/normal Borders Podcast is made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation.

Join us for more amazing content from the Mexicali Biennial!

Website: https://mexicalibiennial.org/

Instagram:   / mexicalibiennial  

Facebook:   / mexicalibiennial  

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mexicalibiennial

Please visit Little Big Stage Productions for learn more about Fred Blanco:

Website: https://littlebigstageproductions.com/ 

Instagram: @talkingtospiritsshow

#ParanormalBordersPodcast #MexiCaliBiennial #ParanormalExperiences #Borderlands #Supernatural #FredBlanco #ParanormalStories #CulturalStories #EerieEncounters #ParanormalPodcast #BorderArt #MXCLBNLLAB #ParanormalBordersLab

Photo Credits and Image Sources:

[10:30] The Stories of César Chávez. Show poster images courtesy of Little Big Stage Productions. Images and graphic art by Morgan Ngu.

[11:10] The Stories of César Chávez. Show poster images courtesy of Little Big Stage Productions. Images by Morgan Ngu.

[18:45] Buffalo Bill Cody, full-length portrait, seated, facing left, holding rifle. , 1903. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/94512281/. 

[19:14] The Great Wildcat Jackson courtesy of Little Big Stage Productions. Image credit Ryella Zar Photography

[19:25] The Great Wildcat Jackson courtesy of Little Big Stage Productions. Image credit Ryella Zar Photography

[21:50] Courtesy Little Big Stage Productions.

[23:22] Courtesy Little Big Stage Productions

[23:56] Talking to Spirits. Courtesy Little Big Stage Productions

[24:36] N. Currier. Mrs. Fish and the Misses Fox: the original mediums of the mysterious noises at Rochester Western, N.Y. , ca. 1852. New York: Published by N. Currier. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2002710596/. 

[25:17] Bain News Service, Publisher. Seance at Baron von Erhardt’s – Table in the air. , 1909. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2014683124/. 

[25:35] Harry Houdini with his wife Beatrice and mother Cecilia Steiner Weiss, half-length portrait. , 1907. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/96518798/. 

[26:14] Greene, Bryan. 2021. “For Harry Houdini, Séances and Spiritualism Were Just an Illusion.” Smithsonian Magazine, October 28, 2021. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/for-harry-houdini-seances-and-spiritualism-were-just-an-illusion-180978944/. 

[26:21] Houdini Exposes Psychic Fraud. New York, 1925. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/96520561/. 

[28:49] Talking to Spirits. Courtesy Little Big Stage Productions.

[33:47] H. Clay Kellogg House, Santa Ana, 1903. Photo courtesy of Orange County Archives

[34:07] HMOC Kellogg House with Kellogg Family. Orange County Archives

[34:25] Courtesy Little Big Stage Productions

[43:17] St. Francis Dam in San Francisquito Canyon near Saugus was completed in 1926 and failed in 1928. It was part of the Owens Valley Aqueduct System. This pre-failure photograph shows the dam wall and behind it the water being held in the reservoir. In the foreground is countryside covered with shrubs. Some water stains can be seen on the wall. [Security Pacific National Bank Collection]/Los Angeles Public Library

[43:27] Portrait of William Mulholland, who brought water to Los Angeles from the Owens Valley.  Featured in the book, “La Reina,” by Laurance Landreth Hill, published by Security Trust & Savings Bank in 1929, on page 124. [Security Pacific National Bank Collection]/Los Angeles Public Library

[46:15] Founders Memorial Park Whittier. Courtesy Whittier Museum. https://whittiermuseum.org/research/cemeteries/ 

[46:23] Tombstones and Mount Olive Cemetery images courtesy Ed Gomez. 2015.

[48:44] Bain News Service, Publisher. Ways of Using a Divining Rod. , ca. 1910. [Between and Ca. 1915] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2014695296/. 

Selected resources and recommended reading for further research:

Teatro Campesino Official Website: https://elteatrocampesino.com/ 

Bizarre Magic/geek magic: A type of performance magic that focuses heavily on crafted storytelling.  The Essence of Bizarre Magic – Bizarre Magic from Black Artefacts

Flea circus: Contemporary Artist Maria Fernando Cordoso and the Cordoso Flea Circus

Sideshow: Sideshow images in the Library of Congress – Photos, Prints, and Drawings Collection https://www.loc.gov/photos/?q=sideshow 

Seances: The psychology of spiritualism: science and seances, Article. The Guardian

spiritualism 

Houdini: For Harry Houdini, Séances and Spiritualism Were Just an Illusion, Article. Smithsonian Magazine

Fox sisters: Free digital book download: Davenport, Reuben Briggs, and Harry Houdini Collection. The death-blow to spiritualism: being the true story of the Fox sisters, as revealed by authority of Margaret Fox Kane and Catherine Fox Jencken. New York: G.W. Dillingham, 1888. Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/10034905/. 

In this episode, Isidro discusses his experience being a previously undocumented laborer before receiving a BFA from CalArts and an MFA in visual arts from UC San Diego. By centering an art practice informed by his identity, he communicates a professional and cultural trajectory that is inspirational and playful. Pérez García and Gomez also discuss the disparate realities and disconnections between paranormal experiences across cultures. 

The PARA/normal Borders Podcast is made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation.

Join us for more amazing content from the Mexicali Biennial!

Website: https://mexicalibiennial.org/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/mexicalibiennial/?hl=en 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071624199822&tn-str=k*F  

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mexicalibiennial 

Please visit the artist’s website to learn more: https://isidroperezgarcia.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chiloteeeee/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChiloTeArt 

#ParanormalBordersPodcast #MexiCaliBiennial #ParanormalExperiences #Borderlands #Supernatural #IsidroPerezGarcia #ParanormalStories #CulturalStories #EerieEncounters #ParanormalPodcast #BorderArt #MXCLBNLLAB #ParanormalBordersLab

Photo Credits and Image Sources:

[18:22] Image of conference table. Courtesy of the artist.

[18:51] Isidro Pérez García as undocumented laborer at a furniture factory. Image courtesy of the artist.

[24:10] Mesa de conferencias de UCSD construida por inmigrantes indocumentados | UCSD Conference Table Built by Undocumented Immigrants. Installation image courtesy of the artist.

[26:23] Installation images courtesy of the artist.

[37:20] MexiCali Biennial: Land of Milk & Honey at casa la linea arte contemporaneo in Calexico, CA. Pulquería video documentation courtesy of MexiCali Biennial. Video credit Hugo Fermé.

[41:30] MexiCali Biennial: Land of Milk & Honey at casa la linea arte contemporaneo. Tuleno performance video documentation courtesy of MexiCali Biennial. Video credit Hugo Fermé.

[48:05] Por Debajo de la mesa: Terreno Familiar | Under the Table: Familiar Terrain at MXCL BNL LAB Whittier, CA. Video documentation courtesy MexiCali Biennial.

[49:44] Installation of Por Debajo de la mesa: Terreno Familiar | Under the Table: Familiar Terrain at MXCL BNL LAB. Images courtesy of the MexiCali Biennial.

Selected resources and recommended reading for further research:

Land of Milk & Honey : California’s Agricultural Histories in Contemporary Art. “Lost Histories in Maguey, Library of Congress Story Map: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/7d33b3cdaa864bd293a7133def5b584b 

Link to documentary video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEMBXxnNYQs 

Photo Essay: Por Debajo de la Mesa: Terreno Familiar | Under the Table: Familiar Terrain 

The Forgotten Village film explores tensions between modernization and traditional healing practices in a small Mexican village. Written by John Steinbeck, the film takes a eurocentric viewpoint on medical treatments.