I recently visited Irvine, California, and had the opportunity to explore the Orange County Museum of Art. The museum features a diverse collection of art and drawings that are relevant to contemporary society. During my visit, I observed and analyzed the artwork on display, with two pieces, in particular, standing out to me: Pacific Gold and Banana Man.
Banana Man is an artwork of Dole banana boxes, commonly found in grocery stores and supermarkets. These boxes are typically used to distribute fruits and vegetables worldwide, and by organizations like Feeding San Diego to help provide food to those in need. The artwork features the image of a migrant worker dressed in coveralls with goggles, a hat, and a mask - the attire necessary for working in the fields. The boxes are a symbol of the exploitation of undocumented Mexican immigrants who work in the agricultural industry, where they face dangerous working conditions and low wages. This artwork sheds light on the realities of the American agricultural industry and its reliance on Mexican migrant workers.
Pacific Gold, another artwork that caught my attention, features an array of fruit and vegetable boxes from various food companies, stacked up to seven feet tall. In the painting, a lady dressed in full gear is smiling and holding her hands out as food falls out of the boxes. The artwork also features a peacock, with many different colors and shapes drawn on its body and feathers. Both artworks were created by Narsiso Martinez, the artist who was born in Oaxaca, Mexico, a state known for its indigenous peoples and cultures.
Visitors interested in viewing these artworks and others may visit the Orange County Museum of Art at 3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. The museum offers free admission and visitors may park in the opposite shopping mall’s parking lot. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays. Other exhibitions currently on display include Sanford Biggers: Of many waters…, 13 Women: Variation I, Peter Walker: Minimalist Landscape, and Fred Eversley: Reflecting Back (the World).
