We Are Here/Estamos Aquí presented a contemporary look at photography’s legacy as a mode of storytelling and agent for social change. Invented in 1839, photography quickly moved from a medium of science and discovery to an instrument adept at social commentary. The artists brought together in this exhibition investigate the dynamic social aspects of the U.S./Mexico border. Downtown San Diego is situated less than 20 miles from the international border at the San Ysidro Port of Entry; one of the busiest land border crossings in the world, providing open access to Tijuana. We Are Here/Estamos Aquí looks at 2,000 miles of our southern border from Texas to California as a place where lives are shaped. This selection of photographs shares individual experiences, explores the impact of border crossing, and investigates various ways the cultures of the U.S. and Mexico, and San Diego and Tijuana are influenced by their proximity to one another. These works represent the multitude of experiences that are created along a nuanced terrain between two countries and the many individuals who are part of a rich cultural exchange.

Artists included in the exhibition: Stefan Falke, Ingrid Hernandez, Tom Kiefer, Pieter Wisse, and Borderclick, a group of young artists connected through San Diego non-profit, The AjA Project.