Mount Signal.  Photograph by Anastasia Vellas.

Art Project for the Imperial and Mexicali Valleys:
Mount Signal/El Centinela and its Sand Spikes

InSITE , a triannual binational arts project, hosted in San Diego and Tijuana, has invited internationally known California-born artist Allan McCollum to do a project for their inSITE2000 area-wide exhibit, set to open in October, 2000. (To read McCollum's original proposal, click here .)

Mr. McCollum has chosen to work with the people in the Imperial Valley/Mexicali area to produce a three-part installation exhibit at three local institutions , planned to open during the first week of October, all on the topic of Mount Signal (El Centinela), and the "Sand Spike" sand concretions found at the foot of this mountain. These three exhibits will subsequently be combined to form a fourth, larger exhibit at the University Art Gallery at San Diego State University's San Diego Campus , from January through March 2001.

In all of the exhibits, McCollum wants to explore and celebrate the communities' affection for their local mountain, which spans the Mexican - U.S. border.

The three local institutions presenting the exhibits are:

The Steppling Art Gallery at the San Diego State University Imperial Valley Campus, Calexico, California, USA

The Imperial County Historical Society Pioneers Museum in Imperial, California, USA.

The Museo Universitario in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.

Each exhibition will be a collaboration between artist McCollum and the institution itself, and will include new materials produced for the exhibits as well as existing works in a variety of media gathered from the local communities. The exhibitions will include the following projects:

  1)   A large model of Mount Signal/El Centinela , produced with the aid of computerized elevation data from the government. Estimated size is 8 feet long, 4 feet wide, 30 inches tall.

  2)   A large outdoor sculpture of a " Sand Spike ," fabricated by Joanne Dutton of Indio, California. A sand spike is a local geological oddity (a particular type of sand concretion found at the base of the mountain.) Estimated size: 7 feet x 15 feet. The model for the large sculpture was chosen from a collection of Sand Spikes at the Imperial Valley Pioneers Museum . When the three exhibitions are over, the sculpture will be permanently installed on the grounds of the museum, visible from California State Highway 111, to attract passing drivers to stop and visit the area.

  3)   A series of small souvenirs of the mountain (in ceramic or plaster), also produced with the aid of computerized elevation data from the government.

   4)  A series of actual-size replicas of the same Sand Spike used as the model for the large sculpture (plaster or cement), also to be used as souvenirs.

   5)  A set of inexpensive booklets on the topic of Mount Signal/El Centinela and the local Sand Spikes,with texts derived from historical sources, local folklore, poems, etc.

  6)  Displays of imagery of Mount Signal/El Centinela , to include fine art paintings, sculpture, drawings, and prints (professional and amateur), photography (professional and amateur), graphic design (logos from area businesses and institutions), ceramics and other crafts (sewing, carving, etc.), post cards and other historical material and memorabilia.

  7)   A website dedicated to images, poems, stories about Mount Signal and its Sand Spikes. The website is completly open to submissions from people who are interested in these topics.

In regard to the items above, McCollum and the participating institutions are welcoming advice, assistance, and contributions of art, artifacts, texts, or other material of all kinds from local collectors, businesses, artists, writers, historians, educators, craftspersons, or any other person who might be interested in contributing or making their material a part of the exhibitions.

Some guidelines for submitted material:

  1)  Central topic of material must be Mount Signal (El Centinela) or the "Sand Spikes."

  2)  It is preferred that material be already in existence (as opposed to anything created especially for the occasion).

  3)  It is best that artworks be created by people local to the area, but please don't hesitate to submit if you are elsewhere!

  4)  It is preferred that no work shall measure over five feet in any direction (much smaller preferred).

Any objects borrowed will be completely insured. Work will not be presented for sale, but contact information can be provided on the gallery label, if desired.

For more information, please contact:

Sheila Dollente , director of Steppling Art Gallery: 760-768-5536

Allan McCollum , artist/co-ordinator: 212 -929-9943

Ginger Ryerson , Liason to the Imperial County Historical Society Pioneers Museum: 760-352-1823

Maria Luisa Gomez , head of Public Relations at Museo Universitario: 011.52.65.53.67.96

Alejandro Marquez , Instituto del Cultura de Baja California: 011.91.65.53.50.44, ext. 130

Michael Golino , inSITE2000 coordinator: 619-544-1482

To visit the Sand Spike Project's website, click here:
Signs of the Imperial Valley: Sand Spikes from Mount Signal.

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