Messages to the Public: Pesticides! (Presented by Public Art Fund, July 1, 1989-July 31, 1989 on Times Square Spectacolor board, New York City)
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Messages to the Public: Pesticides! (Presented by Public Art Fund, July 1, 1989-July 31, 1989 on Times Square Spectacolor board, New York City)
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Description
Barbara Carrasco, Messages to the Public: Pesticides! (Presented by Public Art Fund, July 1, 1989-July 31, 1989 on Times Square Spectacolor board, New York City), 1989, analog video transferred to digital video; 00:48 minutes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 2020.31, © 1989, Barbara Carrasco
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Media Arts
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Annotation
One of the artists chosen for the Times Square Spectacolor lightboard, Barbara Carrasco created this piece as part of her commitment to the United Farm Workers (UFW) with whom she worked closely. The sequence of images displays the grapes as they are treated with pesticides, harvested and sold, eaten by families, and as they cause illness due to pesticides.
Carrasco wanted to highlight the dangers of pesticides to both consumers and the farm workers. The organizers censored the original images of children becoming ill due to pesticide exposure, claiming they were “too harsh.” Carrasco also heard this criticism about another work, the mural "L.A. History: A Mexican Perspective.” This composition is Carrasco’s second submission, as her original submission “Undiscover 500 Years” was rejected for its critique of Christopher Columbus. She recognized the opportunity with the Spectacolor animation and decided to dedicate it to supporting UFW and continuing to inform consumers about their health. (Author: Cal Zeman with Barbara Carrasco)
Carrasco wanted to highlight the dangers of pesticides to both consumers and the farm workers. The organizers censored the original images of children becoming ill due to pesticide exposure, claiming they were “too harsh.” Carrasco also heard this criticism about another work, the mural "L.A. History: A Mexican Perspective.” This composition is Carrasco’s second submission, as her original submission “Undiscover 500 Years” was rejected for its critique of Christopher Columbus. She recognized the opportunity with the Spectacolor animation and decided to dedicate it to supporting UFW and continuing to inform consumers about their health. (Author: Cal Zeman with Barbara Carrasco)
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