On Labor and Youth
Price
This series highlights the stark inequities of life brought on by a globalized economy. Like those under the Essential tab, these workers labor at the whim of consumer appetites, the latter of which we are quickly learning are willing to push hardship onto a faceless person rather than sacrifice convenience or a low price point. Child and slave labor are widespread and evident in many of the products we enjoy daily, but we rarely consider rejecting something because the life of a 5 year old or a prisoner was cut short bringing it to us. These works remind us of the contrast between our lives and those we oppress for profit and comfort. Does it matter that a child might have been tortured for our chocolate from Mars, Nestlé, or Hershey?
Robin Holder
How Cool Is That 2, 2007
Collaged stencil monoprint with acrylic hand painted and drawn elements and text
Framed
38.25 x 30.25 in.
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Claude is seven. He lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At 5 AM after having water for breakfast, he walks 2 miles barefoot, to the Coltan mine. On a good day Claude earns one dollar hauling containers of rocks. Claude's 15 year old cousin, Celestín, lost his left arm and right foot using explosives to open up the mine shaft. Refined coltan is used to make tantalum, a heat resistant powder that holds electrical charges. Coltan is a key component in all cell phones.
All my necessities must fit into my gorgeous, tiny, new, blue beaded evening bag. So I'm getting a new cell phone...free! All I have to do is sign up for two more years of wireless service. How cool is that?!
Robin Holder
Brushed Nickel is So Elegant 1, 2007
Collaged stencil monoprint with acrylic hand painted and drawn elements and text
Framed 38.25 x 30.25 in.
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Every day in Brazil, 10 year old Isabela picks through a putrid garbage heap searching for bottles and cans to sell to the middleman. One day she sunk in the garbage up to her chest. Fortunately her 13 year old brother, Sergio, makes up to $3 US a day and even sometimes finds food, in the huge mountain of refuge, that he takes home to share with the family.
I'm searching the web for designer kitchen accessories I need two recycling containers, 1 for paper, another for bottles and cans. I want them to match our fabulous new ceramic tile floor. My 1st choice is something elegant, in brushed nickel with a 21st century look.
Robin Holder
Cotton Pickin' In The New Age, 2011
Collaged stencil monoprint with acrylic hand painted and drawn elements
Framed 38.25 x 30.25 in.
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Robin Holder
I Love Foreign Films 2, 2007
Collaged stencil monoprint with hand painted and drawn elements and text
Framed 43 x 35 in.
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Thirteen year old Teresa traveled 1,600 miles with her parents and two little brothers to a border town. Jose her dad, got a job in a maquiladora. He suffered with severe headaches, rashes and nausea during the 3 years he worked double shifts. He died of pulmonary problems at age 32. Esperanza, her mom, was fired when a urine test revealed her pregnancy. Teresa, thank god! was hired to assemble electric products. She works 12 hour days, earning $72 US a month. It takes her 9.5 hours to earn enough to buy a gallon of milk.
Since we decided on a very modest Christmas this year, Steve got me a DVD player. When I'm in the mood, especially after a long tiring day of shopping, I take a long relaxing bubble bath, then stretch out with some tasty snacks to watch a movie. My favorites are foreign films.
Robin Holder
Putter Around With The De walt, 2008
Collaged stencil monoprint with acrylic hand painted and drawn elements and text
Framed 38.25 x 30.25 in.
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After two years of training with no pay, thirteen year old Masud is finally able to help his family with their expenses! He is now earning 700 Taka, about $10 US a month! Masud has a job in the metal factory. He works ten hours a day in a windowless room with no ventilation. He uses rusty old tools and works without goggles or a face mask.
Well, I thought it would be fun to get Steve a surprise...a top of the line De Walt cordless drill. He can use it when he's in the mood to fix something. Like many guys, he just loves to putter around with new tools.
Robin Holder
A Brick House, 2011
Collaged stencil monoprint with acrylic hand painted and drawn elements
Framed 38.25 x 30.25 in.
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Robin Holder
My Beautiful Red Dress 2, 2007
Collaged stencil monoprint with acrylic hand painted and drawn elements and text
Framed 38.25 x 30.25 in.
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I am Kadiamal, I live in India. When I was 8 my parents lended me to the silk factory because they had to borrow $35 US when my sister got sick. I sleep in the factory, on the floor between the machines and get up at 4 AM to wind the silk. We work 12 hours a day. If I make my employer angry they tie a chain, attached to the wall, to my leg and beat me with a belt.
Absolutely Stunning! My beautiful new red silk dress. After tracking it through markdowns and price reductions, I finally bought it in a clearance sale! It cost me less than what I earn in 1/2 hour. It will be really difficult, but I am determined not to eat all day on Thursday so it will fit perfectly when we go out to dinner.
Robin Holder
Never Enough Shoes, 2008
Collaged stencil monoprint with acrylic hand painted and drawn elements
Framed 38.25 x 30.25 in.
Robin Holder
Chocoholic Dreams 2, 2008
Collaged stencil monoprint with hand painted and drawn elements and text
Framed 43 x 35 in.
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Oly was lured from his family in Mali, by the promise of a bicycle, to work on one of the 600,000 cocoa farms in the west coast. Cocoa is the basic ingredient in chocolate. Oly and 18 other boys, ages 13, are locked in a 20' x 24' room at non working times. Their daily food ration is a few burnt bananas, They work twelve hour days in the brutal sun, earning $13 US a year. It takes 400 lbs of pods to make 1 lb of chocolate. Oly has never eaten chocolate.
The International Chocolate show was glorious! 52 chocolates and endless samples of their creations! Delectable treats of every kind! Sweet, semi-sweet, dark, milk and sugarless...chocolates with pieces with oranges, kiwi, apples, pears and bananas...with mint, ginger, honey, caramel, jelly...hazelnuts, pecans, almonds and peanuts. I'm a confirmed chocoholic, I eat some form of it daily.