Making Work Visible

My acrylic painting on canvas of the barbershop scene depicts a traditional barbershop in Bronx, New York where the workers provide a very essential service to the community. The barbershop is a place where people of all professions; from the doctors to the construction workers not only come to be groomed, but they also have a place to vent their frustrations releasing tension.

Being the wife of a barber I have the front seat view of the struggles and fears they face on a daily basis, as they work lengthy hours on their feet trying hard to provide for their families in a disturbing economy, and not being able to celebrate holidays in order to please their customers and to pay the bills. My aim is to help make the work of the barbers visible. I believe this painting portrays the Labor Arts spirit, as barbers who for a better part of the time go unappreciated; and are one of the most creative and extremely hard working class of people beautifying the city one person at a time.