OU Architecture faculty member René Peralta was a panelist for this year’s California Lawyers for the Arts symposium, INTERSECTIONS: Art and Law at the Border. Peralta was joined by panelists Amy Sanchez and Misael Diaz of Cognate Collective and Norma Iglesias Prieto at the CLA’s fifth bi-national event.
With a focus on the geopolitical context of the Tijuana-San Diego region, the intention of this gathering was to highlight artists, activists, lawyers, scholars and researchers whose work navigates the intersection of art, praxis and legal issues. As San Diego and Tijuana begin to activate conversation rooted in the 2024 World Design Capital designation, there will be an in-person panel examining Border Art History and Intervention: Past Present and Future.
At the symposium, Peralta explored the evolution of the San Diego-Tijuana border region, delving into its historical perspective based on the 1974 visit by urbanist Kevin Lynch and landscape architect Donald Appleyard. These pioneers proposed a vibrant, sustainable future for the region, but were faced with socio-cultural divisions and geographical gradients.
Peralta also brought attention to the modern conditions represented in the dystopian film “Sleep Dealer,” illustrating issues like border militarization, labor exploitation, techno-dystopias, and the ramifications of climate change and economic disparity.
Highlighting the role of contemporary architectural practices in Tijuana, Peralta presents the border as a reflection of global challenges. He emphasizes a systemic approach to regional transformation that incorporates innovative design strategies for potential alternative realities. By recognizing the border region as a zone of possibilities, Peralta posits that existing frictions could serve as catalysts for the evolution of future urban landscapes and architectural development.
Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to recognize Petya Stefanoff, who is pursuing her doctorate in the Planning, Design & Construction (PDC) program, has been appointed the new role of Director of Community Development for the City of Shawnee, Oklahoma. She joined the city in 2024.
Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Amber N. Wiley, Ph.D., associate professor in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design and director of the Institute for Quality Communities, has received national recognition for her book Model Schools in the Model City. The book has been named a finalist for the 2026 the PROSE Awards.
Gibbs College of Architecture Regional + City Planning Professor of Practice Vanessa Morrison and Associate Professor of Architecture Deborah Richards’ Open Design Collective received top honors at the inaugural BlackSpace Urbanist Collective Studio KIN Pitch Night Competition, held last month in Brooklyn, New York City.
