Artist: Renaldo Matadeen
Description:Influenced by work I did with a home for Venezuelan migrants of all ages: La Casita or Little House. There, I witnessed women of all ages going without clothes and other health items we take for granted. I saw big dreams in this small charity unit, but I also felt a sense of dread and defeat for those who couldn't shake the fear of vulnerability, exploitation and predators. This ball in the visual and its handprint was snapped during a Christmas charity event where I asked what more could be done to help the migrants. Hearing they needed everything from clothes to tampons to pads, etc. opened my eyes because I could never relate to this topic the way a woman could. It reminded me how men don't endure the trouble women do, particularly families who migrate and barely have food on the table. The handprint pushed me to do more work with migrant groups and to spread the message of compassion and empathy more for a people society barely turns an eye towards. This piece touches on a gender disparity, poverty, access to healthcare and how a lack of migrant policy has failed us.
Artist: Renaldo Matadeen
Description:Influenced by work I did with a home for Venezuelan migrants of all ages: La Casita or Little House. There, I witnessed women of all ages going without clothes and other health items we take for granted. I saw big dreams in this small charity unit, but I also felt a sense of dread and defeat for those who couldn't shake the fear of vulnerability, exploitation and predators. This ball in the visual and its handprint was snapped during a Christmas charity event where I asked what more could be done to help the migrants. Hearing they needed everything from clothes to tampons to pads, etc. opened my eyes because I could never relate to this topic the way a woman could. It reminded me how men don't endure the trouble women do, particularly families who migrate and barely have food on the table. The handprint pushed me to do more work with migrant groups and to spread the message of compassion and empathy more for a people society barely turns an eye towards. This piece touches on a gender disparity, poverty, access to healthcare and how a lack of migrant policy has failed us.