over the last 5 years of collaboration our work expanded to include communities throughout the us border regions and along the continental divide of maiza (north, central and south america). THese exciting developments LED US TO RECONFIGURE our art collective IN A WAY THAT HONORS THE emergence, evolution and legacy of our continued work and past partners. The result is the creation and founding of xi’im ek balam.
xi’im ek balam was created on august 8th 2023. we work as a narrative, culture and arts collective, centering indigenous worldviews. our projects address issues including the liberation of all beings, harmonization with the earth, rematriation of land to indigenous leadership, reclamation of traditional songs, dances and culture ways and decolonial storytelling. The initiative employs strategies of eco-social acupuncture, working with land protectors at sacred sites throughout the globe to advance sustainable and equitable futures. we also address community development issues through culture and relational strategies (including immigration, healing justice, housing, and alternative economies).
our co-founders celeste deLuna, nansi guevara and ixchel tonantzin xochitlzihuatl continue their innovative creative practices. You can learn more about celeste deluna here, nansi guevara here and ixchel tonantzin xochitlzihuatl here. The legacy of their contributions to the creation of las imaginistas is foundational. we celebrate the continued beauty and service that their art practice offers the world.
voces unidas and xi’im ek balam COLLABORATE ON SHARED PROJECTS INCLUDING: the rematriation of 14 acres of land in the rio grande valley (futures like flowers) and reindiganization of the immigrant rights movement (borders like water).
our history
LAS IMAGINISTAS WAS FOUNDED BY CELESTE DELUNA, NANSI GUEVARA, AND IXCHEL TONANTZIN XOCHITLZIHUATL (formerly Christina PAtino Houle) IN 2018.
over the years the art collective grew to include many others from the Rio Grande Valley including Rubén Garza, Michelle Serrano, Joe Uvalles, Xandra Trevinio, natalia rockafuerte and savannah munoz.
Throughout 2018-2020 we collaborated with a number of community leaders, street vendors, AND regional nonprofits INCLUDING CARLOTTA PETRINA, BORDER WORKERS UNITED, UNITED WAY OF SOUTHERN CAMERON COUNTY AND BROWNSVILLE WELLNESS COALITION. from 2020-2023 our work expanded to include collaborations with indigneous leaders in central and south america (kichwa, waorani, wixarika, shipibo, yawanawa, zapotec, paiute, maya quiche and others).
OUR WORK HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LATINO ARTS AND CULTURE, BLADE OF GRASS, ARTPLACE AMERICA AND UNITED STATES ARTISTS.
