Hernandez, Ester, 1944-

Biography

Ester Hernandez is one of the pioneers of the Chicano art movement. She grew up in the migrant farm-working community of the central San Joaquin Valley of California, and she experienced firsthand the farm-worker's struggle. Surrounded by artisans within her family: her mother continued the family tradition of embroidery from Central Mexico; her grandfather was a master carpenter and made religious sculpture in his spare time; Ester's father was an amateur photographer and visual artist—and by her personal involvement with the farm-worker community, Ester developed a great interest in community arts, committing herself to "visually depict the dignity, strength, experiences and dreams of Latina women through printmaking and pastels." (E.H.) Ester Hernandez has created art relating to farm-workers, pesticides, laborers, women's issues, civil rights and social justice. Her work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., UCLA, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Mexican Museum, Galería de la Raza and Internationally. As of this writing in 2006, Ester Hernandez teaches and manages at Creativity Explored, a San Francisco art production and education center for developmentally-challenged adults.

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