Superheroes: The Real Story - Dulce Pinzón

DULCE PINZĂ“N

SUPERHEROES: THE REAL STORY Mexican immigrants in New York City commonly work extraordinary hours in extreme conditions for low wages. They then send their earnings home to those who rely on them for survival. This exhibit features photos of real, unnoticed heroes dressed as popular superheroes.

Rosenberg Gallery

LUIS HERNANDEZ from Veracruz, Mexico, works in demolition in New York. He sends $200 a week.

BOLIVAR ABRIL from Quito, Ecuador, works as an ice cream man in New York. He sends $250 a week.

SUPERHEROES: THE REAL STORY Dulce Pinzón After September 11, 2001, the notion of the “hero” began to rear its head in the public consciousness more and more frequently. The notion served as a necessity in a time of national and global crisis, acknowledging those who showed extraordinary courage or determination in the face of danger, sometimes even sacrificing their lives in an attempt to save others.

However, in the whirlwind of journalism surrounding these deservedly front-page disasters and emergencies, it is easy to take for granted the heroes who sacrifice immeasurable life and labor in their day-to-day lives for the good of others, but in a somewhat less spectacular setting.

MINERVA VALENCIA from Puebla, Mexico, works as a nanny in New York. She sends $400 a week.

The Mexican immigrant worker in New York is a perfect example of the unnoticed hero. It is common for Mexican immigrants in New York to work extraordinary hours in extreme conditions. They save their low wages at great cost and sacrifice and then send the funds to families and communities in Mexico who rely on them to survive.

The Mexican economy has quietly become dependent on the money sent from workers in the United States. Conversely, the U.S. economy has quietly become dependent on the labor of Mexican immigrants. Along with the depth of their sacrifice, it is the quietness of the Mexican immigrant workers’ dependence that makes them a subject of interest for Pinzón.

ROMÁN ROMERO from Tlapa, Mexico, works as a superintendent in New York. He sends $800 a month.

The principal objective of this series is to pay homage to the brave and determined men and women who somehow manage—without the help of any supernatural power—to withstand extreme labor conditions to help their families and communities survive and prosper.

This project consists of 17 color photographs of Mexican immigrants dressed in the costumes of popular U.S. and Mexican superheroes. Each photo pictures the worker/ superhero in his or her work environment and is accompanied by a short text including the worker’s name, hometown, the number of years he or she has been working in New York, and the amount of money he or she sends home each week.

September 2 – October 11, 2015 OPENING RECEPTION

Friday, September 18, 6-9 p.m.

Rosenberg Gallery GALLERY HOURS

DIRECTIONS

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday – Friday 410-337-6477

Baltimore Beltway, I-695, to exit 27A. Make first left onto campus.

The exhibit is free and open to the public.

The Rosenberg Gallery program is funded with the assistance of grants from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency funded by the state of Maryland and the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Baltimore County Commission on the Arts and Sciences.

COVER IMAGE: BERNABÉ MENDEZ from the state of Guerrero works as a professional window cleaner in New York. He sends home $500 a month.

16071-4040 09/15