Molly Gochman’s Red Sand Project is an activist artwork created to raise awareness about large grocery chains’ abuse of migrant farm labor to supply cheap produce. Since The North American Free Trade Agreement was passed in 1994, Mexican farm workers have been forced to seek work north of the border, where their illegal status makes them vulnerable to abuse. Grocery stores, fast food chains, and the consumers that keep them in business, have a responsibility to eliminate abuse within their supply chains. Inspired by the work of The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, Gochman will distribute cellphone chargers printed with a line the shape of The US / Mexico border. The project raises awareness of the marginalized people we rely on for our food supply.
By filling sidewalk cracks with red sand, we are drawing attention to the cracks – the margins – the borders – the weak spots in society that have been filled by the most vulnerable people.