My Latino Day Laborer Paintings

In suburban New York where I live, I had become accustomed to seeing Hispanic men congregating in small groups. I knew that they were waiting for work.

Since I often took the same route, I noticed that they were there despite the weather. They were waiting to be hired by contractors or homeowners. The way in which they were dressed, in their work boots and rough clothes appealed to me. I decided that as an artist I would use my medium to express my position on this very important topic.

Since I knew that it would be an invasion of their privacy to take photos of them, I formed my earliest ideas from the film titled, “Farmingville USA”, a town in Long Island, NY. The struggles which ignited there between opposing groups, foreshadowed the enmity which began erupting throughout many towns in America. The pending immigration bill and recent troubles in Mamaroneck NY, as well as in other areas have all converged at this juncture in time.

Recently I began volunteering as an art teacher at a day laborer hiring site in Mt. Kisco NY. This site gives the men the opportunity to wait for work in a humane environment. While they are waiting they can take a class to improve their English.

For me, making contact with these men has been an awakening. It’s made me realize that though they’re now doing physical labor, some of them have had good educational training. They have diverse interests and several have had training in the visual arts. All are anxious to learn and have a genuine respect for education.