Robé

First You Must Believe (the Robé collection) is a collaboration between Xavier Tavera and Bobby Marines that took place in Robstown, TX from December 6th to December 12th, 2021.

With a meticulous approach they were able to document (photograph, draw) Bobby Marines’ hometown, its buildings, its landscapes and its inhabitants.

Every day of that week was purposely planned around the documentation of the area. 

Poverty, lack of opportunities, scarce education, drugs, arms and violence permeate this geographical area. It is difficult to talk about the proper representation of the people of Robstown. Locally, State wise and nationally they already carry the burden of a bad reputation. 

Tavera and Marines opted to follow the representation that the inhabitants of Robstown promote. The name Cotton Pickers has proudly been the branding that, for generations, prevailed. It was not hard to find the brand name in restaurants, high school football fields, baseball jerseys, year books, and in almost every establishment in town. 

The community received them warmly and with curiosity regarding their project. 

Listening attentively to the Robstown community during the documentation, Tavera and Marines began to understand their willingness to participate in our project: their consideration of heritage, family, history and pride in the place that they grew up was enough incentive to gift Tavera and Marines their time, stories and image. 

While Tavera documented the area throughout photography and conversations, Marines aimed to document his experiences through sketches and drawings of what he thought was relevant. The drawings, rubbings, sketches that he produced were an intimate reflection of his family and hometown. 

Through documentation they aim to understand and portray Robstown’s community in a way that humanizes people, and characterizes its people in a positive way.

About the Artists

BOBBY MARINES

A native of Robstown, Texas, a city once listed as "Most Dangerous" by FBI and "Worst City in Texas" in USA Today, Bobby Marines is a Minnesota-based artist whose work considers the influence of socio economics, race, and the criminal justice system on Chicano(x) identity. Growing up engulfed by poverty, gang culture, and drug epidemics, his interdisciplinary practice references personal experiences which reflect the candid reality of marginalized and underserved communities today.

Bobby's latest body of work includes Cascarones (SooVac, Mpls), Cuartito in the Burbs (MadeHereMN, Mpls), and was featured in Making it OK: Art, Bravery, and Mental Health (Rochester Art Center). He recently sat as President of C4, a non-profit arts organization in Rochester and founded the Robstown Arts Committee and Robé Art Blitz, in Robstown, Texas. You can see more here.

XAVIER TAVERA

After moving from Mexico City to the United States, Xavier Tavera learned what it felt like to be part of a subculture- the immigrant community. Subjected to alienation has transformed the focus of his photographs to share the lives of those who are marginalized. Images have offered insight into the diversity of numerous communities and given a voice to those who are often invisible. Tavera has shown his work extensively in the Twin Cities, nationally and internationally including Germany, Scotland, Mexico, Chile, Uruguay and China. His work is part of the collections of the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Plains Art Museum, Minnesota Museum of American Art, Minnesota History Center, Ramsey County Historical Society and the Weisman Art Museum. He is a recipient of the McKnight fellowship, Jerome Travel award, State Arts Board, and Bronica scholarship. You can see more at his website: https://www.xaviertavera.com/ and his instagram here.

 Gallery Hours:

 Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays 12 - 5pm.