Protest Puzzle, Untitled #1

Krystal Ramirez
Protest Puzzle, Untitled #1
February 2020
Paperboard, adhesive, printed reproduction of a photograph
16 x 20 inches
Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art Collection
Gift of Nancy J. Uscher
Purchased with contributions to the Womxn of Color Acquisition Fund.

Photograph of Frontier Strike rally, Culinary Union, Las Vegas (Nev.), 1991 September 21
From the series, We Get What We Take. A collaboration with a division of UNLV Special Collections, Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada

A photo puzzle depicting a protest sign that reads: “WOULD AMERICA BE FREE TODAY, IF NOT FOR THE PROTESTERS OF YESTERDAY.” There is a small American flag to the lower left of the text, and a small UNION YES sign near the lower right. The landscape behind the sign is brownish dirt, with some rocks, a pipe, and assorted debris.

From the artist:

I began research for this project in January 2020. My objective was to take a more in-depth look into the history of protests in Southern Nevada. These protests are a microcosm of the larger history of protests that make this country great. I often think of the bleak outlook faced by so many Americans especially in light of current events, but we all continue to fight for the country we love. As James Baldwin said, “I love America more than any other country in the world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.”

Las Vegas was built by people of color but not made for people of color. Nevertheless, I love Las Vegas and all the people who fought for my family to be here and to live a healthy and prosperous life. My mother has been a part of the Culinary Union for 25 years, and this undoubtedly changed the course of my family’s life.​ These signs are from protests held by the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, primarily in the 90s, to unionize Las Vegas casinos.​ The idea to make the photographs into puzzles is inspired by Felix Gonzalez-Torres. As has been said about Gonzalez-Torres’s work, The puzzles suggest a nostalgic movement coming from the disheartened intention of reviving a past time’s intensity.

“Las Vegas was built by people of color but not made for people of color. Nevertheless, I love Las Vegas and all the people who fought for my family to be here and to live a healthy and prosperous life. My mother has been a part of the Culinary Union for 25 years, and this undoubtedly changed the course of my family’s life. These signs are from protests held by the Culinary Workers Union Local 226, primarily in the ‘90s, to unionize Las Vegas casinos. The idea to make the photographs into puzzles is inspired by Felix Gonzalez-Torres. As has been said about Gonzalez-Torres’s work: ‘The puzzles suggest a nostalgic movement coming from the disheartened intention of reviving a past time’s intensity.’”

Text by Krystal Ramirez. “The puzzles suggest …” is quoted from: Francesco Dama, “The Open Works of Felix Gonzalez-Torres.” (Hyperallergic, 2016)