I'm pleased to let folks here know about the opening this evening of a new art exhibition: OUTSOURCED!, by Robin Holder. (Robin and I crossed paths in the distant past, and recently re-connected.) The exhibit is hosted at the headquarters of the 1199 SEIU, a union local with a long and proud history of working for and with progressive causes. Their address is 310 West 43rd Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues), New York, NY.
I'll let Robin describe the exhibit in a moment. I just want to add that this was planned well before the Occupy movement got underway, but it couldn't be better timed than now.
These images express how my modest middle class lifestyle exists at the expense of child slave labor around the world. It's about the brutal inequities of global economics.
Each work reveals two discordant interconnected human experiences that exist simultaneously in the design, manufacture and distribution of items used in my daily life.
The top layer in each work symbolizes the situation of a child laborer connected with an item I have acquired. This part of the image is a surface-rolled inked stencil monotype with muted monochromatic colors. The layer underneath in each work is painted with vibrant colors and reflects my individual personal perspective and relationship to the manufactured item.
The text below is also from Robin:
UPPER LAYER: After two years of training with no pay, thirteen year old Masud is finally able to help his family with their expenses! He is now earning 700 taka, about $10 US a month. Masud has a job in the metal factory. He works two hours a day in a windowless room with no ventilation. He uses rusty old tools and works without googles or a face mask.
LOWER LAYER: Well, I thought it would be fun to get Steve a surprise....a top of the line cordless DeWalt drill. He can use it when he is in the mood to fix something. Like many guys he just loves to putter around with new tools.
PUTTER AROUND WITH THE DEWALT by robin holder (c) 2010 Collaged stencil monoprint with hand painted and drawn elements and text 38" x 28"