Haledon, New Jersey – The American Labor Museum/Botto House National Landmark proudly opens the exhibit On Immigration and Labor by robin holder on Sunday, September 4th, 2022 at 1PM.
On Immigration and Labor exhibit features original contemporary mixed technique artworks by robin holder. robin holder is a recipient of a Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation Artist as Catalyst Grant and, her art is in the collections of the Library of Congress and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
About the Immigration artworks, robin holder observes “I was able to reflect upon the question: “What is An American?” while developing Behind Each Window, a Voice. This series was initiated when I received a Brooklyn Arts Council Individual Visual Artist Grant. The project provided an opportunity to interview a number of first- and second- generation immigrant neighbors from a range of countries: Hungary, Russia, Ecuador, Ireland, Columbia, The African Diaspora and India. I experimented with extended approaches to printmaking. These works were created by collaging of painting, collage and printmaking techniques: photographic lithography, Xerox litho, monoprinting with relief inked stencils, photo silkscreen, archival inkjet printing and photo silkscreen.”
“The works feature portraits that highlight diverse experiences and challenges,” robin holder continues. “I use the elements of doors and windows to signify the foundation of identity, home, neighborhood, community and society.”
The Laborartworks feature robin holder’s pandemic First Responders. She explains, “We’re in it together, but COVID19 impacts Black and Brown communities disproportionately. We depend on our First Responders and Healthcare Workers to keep our society functioning. Yet many of these heroes are people of color, who are not receiving adequate wages, healthcare, child care, benefits or pension plans.” Construction workers are featured in other artworks created a decade ago, with the expanding definition of “essential workers.” And, Labor Day, from robin holder’s Our Social Skin series, created in the shape of a stockbroker’s vest, is displayed. Our Social Skin is composed of artist books that question assumptions of cultural, social and racial identity as referenced in the ten official federal holidays of the United States. They reveal historic institutional conflicts of our communal identity.
On Immigration and Labor exhibit by robin holder will be on view at the Museum through December 31st, 2022. This program is made possible in part by a grant administered by the Passaic County Cultural and Heritage Council from funds granted by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
The Botto House National Landmark, headquarters of the American Labor Museum, is located at 83 Norwood Street in Haledon, NJ. It was the meeting place for over 20,000 silk mill workers during the 1913 Paterson Silk Strike. The Museum offers a free lending library, restored period rooms, changing exhibits, museum store, Old World Gardens, educational programs and special events. The Museum's hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9AM-5PM. Visitors are welcome Wednesday through Saturday from 1PM-4PM and at other times by appointment. For further information about the Museum, call (973) 595-7953 , email labormuseum@gmail.com and visit www.labormuseum.net. To learn more about robin holder's work visit www.robinholder.work, robin holder "Let's raise our racial IQ with Art."