At Work: The Art of California Labor

Work is at the core of human existence: it is sustenance, security, survival. Through work we find fulfillment, dignity, and affiliation; conversely, we risk criticism and dissatisfaction and, at worst, degradation and alienation. Not surprisingly, the story of labor--which comprises passionate struggles and triumphs as well as dehumanizing forces--—has figured largely in the arts.

At Work: The Art of California Labor delivers a powerful examination of labor history in California since the turn of the twentieth century. This is a visual journey that follows early events and conditions, from the rise of statewide organized labor to the changing demographics of the wartime workforce; from the zenith of the California Labor School to the farm workers' movement; from the disenfranchisement of workers in the service economy to the potent effects of globalization felt at the end of the twentieth century. This compilation of images provides a heady insight into one of the most fundamental components of our daily lives and shows how our collective identity has evolved over time.