Graduate Project Highlights Voices of Borderlands Musicians

A University of Arizona School of Journalism graduate student is using photography and interviews to document the lives of musicians across the Arizona-Sonora borderlands.

“Bordernote,” a graduate capstone project by Bilingual Journalism Program student Richard Whitmer, tells the stories of 47 musicians from communities on both sides of the border, including Yuma, Nogales, Tucson, Phoenix, Douglas, Puerto Peñasco and Hermosillo.

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Whitmer traveled between cities over the course of a year, talking with artists whose ages range from 8 to 74. Rather than focusing on genre or professional status, he centered the project on the people behind the music.

“I’m interested in the personal stories that come with the person. Music will come out of that naturally, because when you love doing something, you end up talking about it,” Whitmer said. 

Each “Bordernote” participant was asked a series of 40 or more questions about their personal history, their connection to music and how living in the borderlands has shaped that relationship. 

The idea for “Bordernote” grew out of Whitmer’s passion for photography, which he began pursuing at age 13. Originally from Tucson, he has also lived and worked in Mexico, where he would often take photos of street performers. 

“I never really talked to them about how they got to where they are,” Whitmer said. “This project allowed me to talk to those people and actually get their stories and, in doing so, hopefully contribute to information about expressive culture on the border.”

To find interview subjects for the project, Whitmer asked people he met while traveling — baristas, cab drivers, tattoo artists — if they knew musicians in their communities. Conversations with featured artists also led to additional interviews, creating a network of stories across the region.

One profile centers on a firefighter living in Douglas who also works as a luthier, crafting and repairing string instruments. Others highlight a teenage mariachi player with plans to study aerospace engineering and a drummer who found community through punk rock music. 

“What I hoped to do with this is go beyond what our stereotypes are of musicians who play Spanish language music,” Whitmer said. “I had a lot of my own preconceptions changed in the process.”

The final result of “Bordernote” will take the form of a photobook pairing portraits of the 47 artists with their personal narratives. An accompanying website expands the work, with videos of performances and playlists featuring music that inspires the featured artists. The site is available in both English and Spanish.

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Selections from “Bordernote” are now on display through April 25 at Tucson’s Jireh Collective art gallery, where Whitmer curated 20 stories from the series.

Whitmer said he hopes people come away with a broader view of both the musicians and the region.

“Everyone was really fascinating,” he said. “I hope people find the stories and photos interesting and that it makes them think about musicians and life in the borderlands in a way they hadn’t before.”

Whitmer worked closely on the project with School of Journalism Professor Jessica Retis and Assistant Professor of Practice Kendal Blust as his capstone advisors. 

“Richard has shown incredible dedication and perseverance in creating this project, planning multiple trips to each community, meeting repeatedly with his sources and adding personal touches to each story,” Blust said. “It’s a testament to Richard’s commitment to and passion for this work.”

Whitmer plans to continue documenting stories for “Bordernote” after graduating, building on the relationships and conversations that shaped the project.

“It was such a good experience going to these places and talking to all sorts of strangers,” he said. “Even people who weren’t featured in the project. It was amazing.”