Art Show Reflects Frustration & Hope of Day Laborers

by Myra Hafetz

(April 27, 2006) Both excitement and sadness fill the air of the long, narrow room where they meet every week to work. The painters and the jewelry makers of the “Artistico” workshop are preparing for the annual show, “Migrant Voices/Voces Peregrinas,” that opens on May 4th. This year, however, the show will open amid a crisis for the day laborers in Mamaroneck. With the closing of the day laborers’ site at Columbus Park this past February and the ensuing police presence in the area, many of their friends are having trouble finding work. (See: Village of Mamaroneck Closes Day Labor Site.) The situation has deeply affected them, but they continue to get ready for the opening.

Several of the painters and the jewelers who were not in the two previous shows are busy putting last minute touches on their work. Aurelio Castaño, the leader of the workshop, runs back and forth, looking at photographs, checking frames and helping to finish necklaces. Everyone takes a short break to pose for a group picture to exhibit at the gallery. This is the culmination for them of months of hard work. “Los niños,” as Mr. Castaño smilingly refers to his class, are ready. The artists often bring problems to the table, and Mr. Castaño is always ready to comfort and advise. But he is also a teacher who wants his students to excel at what they do.

Painters and jewelers from the Artistico workshop are exhibiting in the “Migrant Voices/Voces Peregrinas” show beginning May 4 at Larchmont Art.

As the class goes back to their preparations for the show, the painters who have exhibited in the prior shows gather at the end of the room to talk. (See: Three Artists Transplanted from Mexico to Mamaroneck and Migrant Artists Demonstrate Their Art & Methods.) They are excited about the chance to show their work to the Larchmont/Mamaroneck community. But the painters speak of their frustration. “We all want to grow and develop our skills in this country,” Saúl Arévalo explains, “and right now too many things are not allowing this to happen. I don’t feel angry, but it’s difficult to understand why some people do this.” This deep feeling permeates one of his newest works, “Frustracion”. In this painting there are beautiful roses wrapped in barbed wire. Laurentino Nava nods his head in agreement. His paintings are richly colored landscapes from Mexico. He paints these scenes so for a while he can forget the suffering of the people around him. “I feel bad,” he says “people only want to work so they can pay the rent and buy food. Why do the police watch people who only want a job? People don’t feel good, and they don’t feel safe.”

Ramón Ibarra joins them. He is working on a painting, showing what is happening around him. “The workers feel that things are against them,” he says. “They keep being told to move on, and they don’t understand. If people could get jobs, they wouldn’t be standing around.”

Artist: Aurelio Castano

Mr. Castaño has also just finished three small painting for the show. They each depict an American flag and in the corner of each there is a small figure trying not to be crushed. “This is how the day laborers must be feeling,” he explains. “The world is closing in around them.”

The painters sit quietly for a while before returning to their preparations. Then Mr. Arévalo shows everyone another work that he has just finished. It is of an angel at prayer in a rainbow of colors. The artists gather round and admire this work that is so different from the other. They nod in agreement. “Perhaps things will get better,” one of them whispers. “ For us, there is always hope.”

"Angel" & "Frustracion" by Saúl Arévalo

“Migrant Voices/Voces Peregrinas III” opens with a reception on Thursday, May 4th from 6:30 to 9 pm at Larchmont Art, located at 1899 Palmer Avenue in Larchmont. There will be an artists’ demonstration of jewelry and whistle making as well as painting on Saturday, May 20th from 2:30 to 4:30 pm at the gallery The show closes on Saturday, June 3rd.

Myra Hafetz is co-president of the Mamaroneck Artists Guild and a member of the the Hispanic Resource Center board.

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