DORF Presents:
Without Borders / Sin Fronteras
A Solo Exhibition by Táhila Moss

Opening Reception: Friday, January 31, 2025, 7:00–10:00 pm.
Exhibition Dates: January 31 – May 10, 2025
Artist in Residence: January 25–February 1, 2025
Community Event: Saturday, February 1, 2025, 5:00–7:00 pm.
Open Saturdays: 12–5 PM

DORF proudly presents new work by multidisciplinary artist Táhila Moss in her solo exhibition, Without Borders / Sin Fronteras. Through this powerful exhibition, Táhila explores the intricate dynamics of land sovereignty and the enduring impact of colonial frameworks on ecosystems, Indigenous communities, and relationships with the natural world.

Táhila’s work transcends human narratives by weaving together the interconnected lives of animals, plants, water, air, and land. Her photographs document life surrounding various locations along the United States/Mexico colonial border and includes scenes of the landscape, community gatherings, acts of care, and environmental resistance. Also depicted, the jarring presence of fences, borders, and other human-made structures emphasizes the profound disruption of ecosystems by exploitative entities who prioritize profit over the sacredness of the natural world.

The imposition of human-made borders, both as a conceptual model and a physical barrier, reflects a colonial worldview that enables commodification of the natural world by fragmenting habitats, obstructing wildlife migration, and creating imagined hierarchies between humans and nature. These boundaries sever ancient ecological and migration pathways, weaken biodiversity, and undermine the delicate balance required for ecosystems to thrive.

In her photographs, Táhila highlights sacred sites of the Esto’k Gna Nation (Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe) in the region widely known as Brownsville, Texas, and brings attention to their fight for sovereignty. This work is an expansion of Táhila’s ongoing project, created with support from World Monument Fund and Magnum Foundation as part of the 2022 World Monuments Watch, to document the lifeways and political actions of the Esto’k Gna people around Garcia Pasture. The World Monuments Watch is a proven tool for raising awareness about heritage places in need of protection while galvanizing action and support for their preservation.

As guardians and stewards of Turtle Island, Indigenous practices center on reciprocal relationships with Mother Earth. Care, respect, and reciprocity are offered in exchange for what the land provides, fostering a sense of mutual responsibility. Without Borders / Sin Fronteras invites viewers to reimagine and heal their relationship with the natural world, and to honor the deep, sacred ties between Indigenous communities and the land.

Community Event: Saturday, February 1, 2025, 5:00–7:00 pm.

  • 5:00 pm – Artist talk with Táhila Moss

  • 5:45 pm – Panel discussion with –

    • Juan Mancias, Tribal Chair of the Esto’k Gna Nation (Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe),

    • Christa Mancias-Zapata, Executive Director of Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe of Texas, and

    • Jesse Manciaz, Tribal Elder and War Chief

  • 6:30 pm – Presentation by –

    • Monica A. Sosa, Worker/Owner of ENTRE + Project Curatorial Manager of Boca Chica, Corazón Grande

    • Chef Joseph Gomez, Brownsville Native

    • Featured Film: La playa de la gente by C. Diaz (2024) (3:41)

About Táhila Moss

Táhila Moss, a visionary Indigenous Yaqui artist, blends Indigenous knowledge, art, and technology to amplify underrepresented voices. As an innovation leader, she fosters healing and cultural preservation through global collaborations, educational initiatives, and immersive storytelling. Recognized internationally, her work addresses climate change, cultural resilience, and social justice, inspiring transformative global impact. For Táhila, visual storytelling is a tool for education, understanding, protection, and empowerment, which she leverages to highlight Indigenous communities, the land and waters, and those who live within and on them. She holds an MFA from the University of Texas at Austin and previously taught in the Studio Art Department at Texas State University. To learn more about the artist visit https://www.tahila.net.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

 

This project has been financed in part by the City of Austin’s Elevate Grant Program and Magnum Foundation. 

Additional support provided by Carpenter Hotel, Holland Photo and Imaging, ENTRE, and the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe of Texas.

ABOUT DORF

DORF was founded in 2018 with a mission to build a village of artists, advocates, and innovators. DORF’s values of openness, intention, expression, and community have guided its programming, which includes exhibitions that tackle social justice, amplify marginalized voices, and foster meaningful dialogues.

DORF is committed to fostering equity and innovation in the arts. By supporting artists who are at risk of cultural erasure or displacement, DORF aims to shift the balance of representation within art institutions, offering resources and platforms to those historically marginalized. 

We have received recognition in publications like Texas Monthly, Sightlines Magazine, The Austin Chronicle, Glasstire, Southwest Contemporary, and more, and received “Best New Experimental Art Gallery” in The Austin Chronicle.