Soy el Rio Exhibit & Performance Art by Javier Dragustinovis

As part of its continuing programming supported by the Mellon Foundations Humanities in Place Grant, the River Pierce Foundation presents “Soy el Rio,” an Exhibition & Performance by Matamoros-based artist Javier Dragustinovis on Saturday, December 20, 2025 from 12:30-6:00 pm at the Trevino-Uribe Fort located at 604 Trevino St, San Ygnacio, Texas.

Javier Dragustinovis is a multidisciplinary artist and curator at Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Tamaulipas (MACT) in Matamoros, Mexico. His work addresses themes of migration, labor, and community collaboration, and has been exhibited at spaces including Shedhalle Zurich and La Cápsula in Switzerland; the National Museum

of World Cultures; the Museum of Contemporary Art of Tamaulipas in Mexico; the Hyde Park Art Center; the San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum, and the International Museum of Art and Science in McAllen. He directed the films, "A Par del Río" (2020) and "An Architecture for the North" (2022), and co-authored the book “I Am More Than My Hands: The Different Worlds of Women in the Maquiladora” (Friedrich Ebert Foundation, 2001).

His exhibit in San Ygnacio will include drawing, photography, installation, video, and interactive performance.

The event will also feature a free screening of Michael Tracy’s documentary ‘Culture, Water, and Money: The Passion of the Frontier’ (1997). The screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Javier Dragustinovis and Trevino-Uribe Fort architectural conservator, Frank Briscoe.

An interactive performance by Javier Dragustinovis will take place directly after the panel discussion. Dragustinovis will lead participants in a procession to the river where the performance will take place.

An artist mixer will take place following the performance featuring music by Pharr Out Records and food by Malaquite.

The event is free and open to the public and is supported by the Mellon Foundation and Laredo Film Society. For more information, please visit riverpierce.org or call 956-765-5784.

Schedule

12:30-2:00 PM: Soy el Rio Exhibit by Javier Dragustinovis

12:30-2:00 PM: Malaquite Taco Service

2:00-3:00 PM: Culture, Water, and Money: The Passion of the Frontier Documentary Film Screening 

3:00-3:30 PM: Panel Discussion with guest artist Javier Dragustinovis & Frank Briscoe (architectural conservator)

3:30-4:30 PM: Performance Art Piece by Javier Dragustinovis

4:30-6:00 PM: Artist Mixer featuring music by Far Out Records and food by Malaquite