Week 7- Ester Hernandez Presentation

For my presentation I will be discussing the work of Ester Hernandez, a visionary Chicana artist and printmaker. Hernandez grew up in Dinuba, CA where her mother worked temporarily as a farmhand. While in Dinuba, Hernandez witnessed the protests led by Cesar Chavez, which had a lasting impact on her and her work. She began to create work that advocates for the rights of labor workers and criticizes the inhumane practices they are forced to participate in.

In the late 1970s, Hernandez returned home to visit her mother and learned about the water contamination occurring in the barrio, and reflected on the time she spent assisting her mom growing grapes for the raisin industry. In 1982 Hernandez made the piece Sun Mad to reflect her anger at the inhumane practices and conditions workers in the raisin industry are exposed to. Hernandez subverted the image of the wholesome Sun-Maid raisin girl, turning her into a skeleton to represent the harmful conditions that the workers are exposed to. I love this print because it sends such a direct message by revealing the true nature behind labor practices.


Sun Mad (1982) by Ester Hernandez