The Migrant Series “Landscape Portraits" is in collaboration with a documentary film titled At a Stranger’s Table: An In-Depth Introduction of the East Coast Migrant Farm Worker. My role as the creative director with the documentary led to the work in this series. The documentary explores the complex lives of both undocumented and H-2A documented migrant workers in eastern North Carolina. The documentary brings the migrant field workers and the consumers of produce to the dinner table for a meal. Conversations about food production, cultural differences, and personal points of view are shared.
The drawings are inspired by the articles of work-clothing left behind from the migrant workers when the harvest season ended and they returned home to Mexico. Issues such as identity, race, borders, labor control, neo-liberalism and isolation are all explored.
The portrait paintings are inspired by the individuals I meet in the fields. I return to the studio to create these small works from memory.
Sally Jacobs, in collaboration with Association of Mexicans in North Carolina (AMEXCAN), was awarded as a semi-finalist in the Z. Smith Reynolds foundation Inclusive Public Art Project Grant. 82 applicants applied statewide with 20 selected as semi-finalists. Out of the 20 semi-finalists 10 will receive the full grant. Currently, we are conducting research and community input that will guide in the final submission.
Drawings
All drawing are graphite on drafting film, 36” X 24”
All paintings are oil on panel 8” x 6"
