The project we were assigned was about social justice and we were shown an example from the artist Shepard Fairey. I thought about what I should do and I decided to do an art piece about Immigration and how the kids are being locked up because it was something that affected me and my family.This relates to my life because I come from an immigrant family and it makes me upset to watch this happen to people when they only want a better life. It also makes me feel mad that this is happening and there is nothing we can do about it. It also makes my whole family upset, mad and worried.

I had an idea to make the president’s hand acting as a cage over an immigrant kid. My idea didn’t change from that but I did end up adding an American flag in the background. I decided to put the president’s hand because he is the one doing all of this, I represented that by putting a Trump pin on his arm, I represented the Mexican kid crying with his sombrero on his side with the Mexican flag colors on it and his outfit too.

Rodolfo Peña

The Hand

February 2020

Pencil, paper, and colored pencils 9” x 11.9375”