Title
$26
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Description
Oil on canvas, 49.5 in. x 87.75 in. As a borderland artist, Francisco Delgado illustrates U.S. citizens crossing the border into Mexico. Tourists, workers, students, commercial and industrial travelers pass through the busy El Paso-Juárez, Mexico border, which also conveys to-and-fro international trade between Mexico and the United States. According to Delgado, his painting represents the crossing of currency from the U.S. to Mexico, where the U.S. dollar is valued for its purchasing power (consistently worth more than pesos). This scene takes place at the “Free Bridge” (Cordova Bridge or the Bridge of the Americas) in El Paso as drivers cross into Juárez. U.S. Presidents Andrew Jackson (left), Abraham Lincoln (center), and George Washington (right) drive individually into Mexico, each of them pictured on U.S. dollar bills. Together, the total worth of their currency adds up to $26 (Jackson $20, Lincoln $5, and Washington $1). Jackson appears to be yelling, perhaps at the newspaper vendor who runs toward him. An angry Lincoln is saying “no” to a window washer, who wipes down his windshield and asks to be paid. He holds up an empty Coke bottle to Lincoln, who refuses to drop money into it. Meanwhile, a woman, wearing a green shawl (symbolizing the color of money) and holding a cup from McDonald’s, begs Lincoln for money. Her little boy reaches for his milk bottle that she clutches in her left hand. Washington waits patiently for the traffic to move forward. A paleta (Mexican popsicle) vendor pushes his paleta wagon, hoping to sell to the Americans. Delgado explains, “The masks on the vendors and other Mexicans symbolize the struggle to survive. They are luchadores [Mexican wrestlers]. The masks are black because they are anonymous, and we do not see them. We don’t see or acknowledge their faces or struggle.” Francisco Delgado was born on November 3, 1974, in Ciudad Juárez, and grew up in El Paso’s Segundo Barrio. He received his Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Art. His Bordeño artworks are informed by the social and cultural struggles inherent to life on the Mexican and United States border. His artwork addresses issues of identity, race, cultural traditions, and government policies that affect migration and immigrants. In his own words, Delgado says, “I am a visual artist with an artistic focus on social issues.” He visually represents the history of his community and creates a dialogue for social change. Often using dark humor or satire to depict his narratives, his artwork highlights the struggles of underrepresented people along the border. A prolific artist, Delgado works in painting, drawing, printmaking, and has also produced community murals. His works have been published in books and exhibited in national and international art exhibitions and community institutions. Francisco currently resides, teaches, and creates artwork in El Paso.
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