CALEXICO — An artist, writer and photographer who grew up on First Street along the border fence, Jimmy Dorantes’ grasp of Calexico’s rich history is as good as any and deserving of being put to beneficial use.
And now it will be. On Wednesday morning, June 26, Dorantes was introduced as the author selected by the Calexico Arts Council to chronicle the city’s progress and growth from 1930 to 1969 in the second in a three-part series of books on Calexico’s history.
The Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Center was the site of a press conference where Arts Council and city officials gathered to laud Dorantes and create some buzz for what is to come in the second volume, which local history buffs will have a chance to read in about six months.
The nonprofit Arts Council began the project post-COVID and published the first book, “Calexico: The Origin or ‘Early beginnings,’” in 2023, which covered the border town’s early history up to 1929.
About the new book, Dorantes said, “I think this is a very important era of Calexico history. It will be a challenge to write it, but also fun.” He wants to find new information about how people lived during that time. The main question driving the book is: What was life like in Calexico during that era?
Carmen Durazo, who is both the project director and primary editor for the book, said that guidelines for the writing of the volume include having sections in both English and Spanish, as well as a separate section for photographs and other historical documents. The book’s format will include divisions by category as well as by decade. The four main categories include: Arts & Culture, City Government, Education and Commerce.
Durazo said that this will be a collaborative work by Dorantes and Calexico residents to produce a compilation of “everybody’s experience.” She encourages all residents to participate. “We need their stories, and their photos.” She emphasized that, “This is being done from a personal place. For our elders, our kids, and for our new immigrants, too.”
“I hope to add interesting and never-before-seen photographs,” Dorantes said. “Digging, finding, and putting together — that’s my job.” He hopes Calexico residents will partake of the community workshops offered, where the public is invited to bring in old photographs, documents or other artifacts that they can share for the book.
Over the years, Dorantes’ experience with border culture imparted vivid memories and material for his books and photography. He has a keen eye for detail and has seen first-hand the evolution of the border fence and how the city of Calexico has evolved and changed over the years, he said.
His humble beginnings as a photographer started when his mother gifted him a camera at the age of 3, so that he could entertain himself and take family photos. He has since become a widely traveled and nationally renowned photographer and author, having worked for the likes of Time magazine, HBO and many other major book publishers and newspapers.
His first photography book is titled “Life Along the Border,” and it depicts border life and border culture via a series of images. His second solo book, “The Observant Eye,” was also a recently published photography book. Dorantes has collaborated on the book, “Americanos,” a project done in partnership with Edward James Olmos.
Calexico Mayor Pro Tem Javier Moreno and City Council member Victor Legaspi were in attendance to show support for the book project. Moreno and Legaspi both pledged to actively support Dorantes and the Calexico Arts Council in their book project and expressed confidence in the council’s selection.
“Calexico is very unique. On behalf of the city, we support the book,” Moreno said. “I went to high school with Jimmy. I know he’s going to do a good job.”
See also
Legaspi has also pledged his participation and encouraged other Calexico residents to share their family heirlooms, photographs and personal anecdotes with the Arts Council. He said, “Calexico has a lot of history. We just need to find it and share it with each other.”
While Dorantes has traveled the world and worked on many projects, he said he is honored to write about his hometown. He thanked the Arts Council board members for selecting him and said, “Calexico is unique. It has a special meaning to all who live here.”
Proceeds from the book will go toward writing the third installment in the series and can be purchased via the Calexico Arts Council Facebook page. The book will then become a historical archive for the city’s residents to read, learn from and enjoy.
Calexico residents are invited to participate in two separate workshops where they can bring their old photographs and have them scanned. Originals will be returned immediately on the spot.
Workshops will take place on Saturday, July 13 from 10 a.m. to noon and Saturday, July 20 from 10 a.m. to noon. Both gatherings will be held at the Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Center. Members of the public are encouraged to attend. They can also contact the author and project director via email at carmendurazo1@yahoo.com or jimmy.dorantes@gmail.com
