ABOUT NALAC
IMMIGRANT. ESSENTIAL. RESILIENT. is supported
in part by the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures and the Ford Foundation through funding from the Border Narrative Change Grant Program.
ABOUT WORKERS DEFENSE
Workers Defense is a statewide organization dedicated to building power for low-wage workers, people of color, and immigrants and across Texas to win fair employment conditions and a better quality of life for working families through legislative advocacy, voter education, and voter engagement.
ABOUT THE ART PIECE:
Following a devastating year where working families were left to fend for themselves in unprecedented working conditions, Workers Defense Action Fund’s “IMMIGRANT. ESSENTIAL. RESILIENT.” Art Exhibit inside the Texas State Capitol honors lives lost, workers who have put their lives on the line, and members of Workers Defense who have been impacted by COVID-19.
TAKE ACTION:
TELL THE HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TO VOTE NO ON SENATE BILL 14 AND STRENGTHEN WORKER PROTECTIONS IN TEXAS
BEHIND EVERY WORKER, THERE'S A STORY.
Worker Defense members created their own unique panel that collectively tell the story of immigrant workers throughout Texas. Scroll through each individual piece for the story behind each art piece.
Julia De Leon
Houston, TX
Trabajadores de esta Industria. Son Esenciales Las niñeras hacen posible que los profesionales desempeñe su trabajo cuidando de los niño de su hogar y mascotas Trabajadores del campo hacen posible que nos llegue los alimentos en nuestros hogares Trabajadores de construcción Construyen casas Hospitales Escuelas aeropuertos autopistas carreteras edificios y más
Norma Cisneros - Dallas, TX
sacrificando la vida perdido en el desierto sin nada que comer por darle un mejor vivir a mi familia (en busca del sueño americano)
Entel Buenano - Houston, TX
Dibuje esos cofres de muertos simulando algunos trabajadores esenciales que han muerto en diferente circunstancias sin que el gobierno haga nada.
Melissa Morales - Houston, TX
La escogí para mi pintura porque es lo que representan los inmigrantes trabajan fuerte sin importar las condiciones donde se encuentran . Los trabajadores de construcción son esenciales en este país.
Erika Rojas - Dallas, TX
Mi arte representa el cerro de la silla porque de ahí soy, La mujer que está agachada representa a la mujer o persona trabajadora que viene a realizar los trabajos pesados como limpieza, está de espalda porque no da la cara, le da miedo reportar un mal pago o una injusticia por miedo a la deportación, y porque no contamos como persona no tenemos identidad. Las manos porque todos venimos a progresar y trabajamos duro Las niñas son mis gemelas, y como yo, la mayoría de hispanos queremos lo mejor para nuestros niños un mejor futuro y este es un país donde pueden triunfar El corazón es que somos muy compasivos y siempre nos ayudamos y también tenemos sentimientos cuando alguien sufre una injusticia Y el logo de defensa laboral pues gracias a ustedes muchos podemos expresarnos y ser escuchados
Ana Isabel - Austin, TX
Mi pieza de Arte fue inspirada en la promesa que tanto anhelamos ver los nosotros los inmigrantes en este país !”una reforma migratoria ahora “. Yo soy trabajadora inmigrante doméstica esencial en los hogares americanos ! una reforma migratoria sería esa esperanza a no más ! Vivir con temor , no más ser discriminados, no más falta de derechos laborales ..USA es nuestro hogar ahora exigimos justicia y respeto para los inmigrante que con nuestro esfuerzo y hasta con nuestras vidas formamos y cuidamos este país todos los días!! Reforma migratoria no es una cuestión política , es una una cuestión de humanidad! El delantal que puse es por que soy empleada doméstica, use los colores rojo y azul de USA y rojo de Alerta también Y el bordado en las orillas son los colores de mi bandera mexicana 🇲🇽 verde y rojo y blanco lo representa la manta Y las letras donde dice inmigrantes workers use color ROJO NEGRO son los colores cuando cuando un grupo de persobas se manifiestan y hacen huelga para exigir sus derechos.
Jerry Garcia - Austin, TX
Workers Defense Intern
My flag says “undocumented, essential, human”, all next to checked off boxes, with a stamped border of monstera leaves.
Bricia Garcia - Dallas, TX
Workers Defense Staff
Mi inspiración para esta pieza fue el mostrar cómo en esta pandemia hemos escuchado todo el tiempo sobre los trabajadores de la construcción son trabajadores esenciales ya que han estado trabajando sin parar durante toda la pandemia pero el problema es que no se les trata como tal y no se les para como esenciales tampoco. Necesitamos actuar y que se valoren!
Maria Deisy - Houston, TX
Cocina y lavandería
Este proyecto fue muy importante para mi ya que yo no sabía nada de bordado y pintura y un significado que tiene es uno nunca tiene que decir no puedo siempre hay que luchar por lo que uno quiere y lo que me inspiró hacerlo es que uno sí puede y me quito el miedo de dejar seguir mis sueños y que siempre hay buenas personas que lo ayudan a uno seguir adelante bendiciones a todas y a todos excelente experiencia
Sharon De Leon - Houston, TX
As the daughter of a single mother, I chose to depict a hard working woman of many trades. Like many immigrants, labor workers persevere day in and day out to provide for their families. This composition portrays the humility of labor workers while also demonstrating the significance of their abilities. Her raised fist demands “Derechos and Dignidad”. Labor workers deserve their RIGHTS defended like all others, along with their DIGNITY. All should be treated with respect and equality.
Enedina Torres-Santibanez Houston, TX
Hello my name is Enedina Torres-Santibanez And I did this piece of Art thinking about "Together we will make History" It does not matter Nationality, skin color and Economic Status we are all here United to change our history, our future and fight for our rights towards a Just Reform for our countrymen, our people, our community.
Maria Terrazas - Dallas, TX
Landscaping
My family and I were inspired by essential workers because our/their rights are not upheld. We are humans, we deserve equality.
Lucia Sanchez - Austin TX
My piece is a painting of COVID 19, the hurt it inflicted on my family, I added photos of my mother who died because of COVID, the frustration of not being able to be with her because of me being in the USA and her in Mexico. It is an indescribable pain not to have paper, there are scars that will never heal, injustices, the fact that we came to this county to work and we are not appreciated, or our efforts. We came to this country and left children, parents siblings without knowing what our destiny would be.
Diana Ramirez - Dallas, TX
Workers Defense Staff
My art piece is a description of how El Norte was described to me as a child, my travesia to the country and my personal experience living here for 20+ years now. I came to the US when I was 10 years old with my two brothers and mom. I was so afraid when our floaties separated from each other and remember the bushes vividly. I've grown up here and have faced many difficulties that felt like I was being chained up or encarcelada, but through organizing, activism, paciencia and a hunger for justice, I've been able to feel relief or at least no tan ahorcada.
Leticia Santos
House cleaning
I did my piece thinking of the families and UPLIFTING THE VOICES FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM because many families have been separated and hidden not going outside because of fear to be deported, that why I was inspires in familias the flowers mean happiness and freedom.
Rocio - Austin, TX
Cleaning
My piece: REPRESENTS MY SON WHO WORKED IN THE CONSTRUCTION TOGETHER WITH HIS FATHER FOR 3 MONTHS AND DID NOT RECEIVE PAYMENT FOR 3 MONTHS, I REMEMBER THAT WE DID NOT HAVE MONEY FOR FOOD .. MY SON WAS TRAUMATIZED AND CRIES A LOT OF COURAGE .. the painting: for me represents: I WAS A DISHWASHER FOR 5 YEARS IN A CATERING COMPANY AND I NEVER HAD A FAIR SALARY OR DEAL, AND HAD TO ENDURE THIS SITUATION BECAUSE I HAD TO WORK.
Mayra Huerta - Austin, TX
Workers Defense Staff
My inspiration for my art piece was the members of Workers Defense who support each other and fight for each other, and truly represent what it means when we say "la unión hace la fuerza."
Tania Samantha Silva Díaz - Austin, TX
My name is Tania Samantha Silva Díaz. My painting was inspired mostly by my father who works making sheet metal in air conditioners which is also in the construction category. He arrives very tired every day so that I and my brothers have a better future. The painting shows a man dressed as a builder carrying Texas. This parallels the pain and suffering that many immigrants have when coming to Texas and entering the construction arena. And at the last I put the phrase we build Texas because it is still being built and will continue to be built mostly by immigrants.
Maria De Jesus Garza - Dallas, TX
Workers Defense Staff
This art piece is inspired by the members carrying a cross as they mourn the death of a worker. Over the years we have had members dying while at work and their families are left to deal with the pain of losing someone who was just trying to keep their families fed. My embroidery is inspired by our members also who are demanding the ability to apply for a driver's permit. In Texas, public transportation is not really an option for some workers, especially construction workers who are literally building the infrastructure where there was none. There is no other way to get to work than to drive.
Maria Deisy - Houston, TX
Cocina y lavandería
This art piece is inspired by the members carrying a cross as they mourn the death of a worker. Over the years we have had members dying while at work and their families are left to deal with the pain of losing someone who was just trying to keep their families fed.
Paulina Ramon - Dallas, TX
Trabajadora en una bodega
“WORKING WOMEN WITHOUT LIMITS FOR THE LOVE OF OUR FAMILIES” 1. No limit to the blue color that the sky means. "Our potential as human beings has no limits or borders for our dreams since the sky is the only limit." 2. The purple hand. It is the power of the hardworking woman dedicated to fighting in life with passion. 3. The white circle means freedom and equal rights. 4. The heart means love, strength, pain and courage when having to sacrifice everything to go in search of a better future for the family. 5. The colors of the shores signify the four cardinal points, recognizing that we come from different cultures, races but that we have only one objective, to fight for our survival in the world for a better development as human beings. This is my message that I wanted to express.
Mirna Rodriguez - Austin, TX
Sale of products and house cleaning
In my piece I wanted to add a heart surrounded by rose petals because we are a hardworking and united community with the same dream and a big heart <3 to build Texas.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Nopalistxs mission is to fill the public streets with images and words to support folks’ emotional/mental health, share resources, and inspire people to dream of more than just the future. We want to call out politics as business as usual and use this critical moment to help us all imagine an intersectional dignity and justice for all.
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