Sergio Maciel, American, born 2000
Segregated Chicago, 2020
20-year-old Chicago-based artist, Sergio Maciel, created this work of art showing an example of environmental racism in his home-city. The artwork was displayed in two Patagonia storefronts, each location chosen because the setting was a part of a recent example of environmental injustice. His work references the systemic racism that occurs as part of environmental disasters in the city, displayed through the two different worlds the young children are set in. A young African American girl is wearing a gas mask for protection next to a polluted background filled with waste, while the white boy is blowing bubbles in front of an ideal cityscape. The contrast shows the segregation of the city and the racism that continues to occur, as well as how environmental disasters play a role in it. Label by Maeve Marsh
Sergio Maciel has chosen to depict two children experiencing two different sides of Chicago. The child on the left enjoys his bright and clean community while the other child has to wear a gas mask to protect herself from the pollution and poor living conditions of her community. The artwork is meant to bring attention to differing living conditions people are segregated into based on race and class in the city of Chicago. People on both sides however are shown to be protesting against the pollution and dangers it presents to their health. The inequity of the different groups of people are shown as a core issue in the center, but it is framed by protestors from both groups who share a common interest. This artwork appears to serve as a rallying cry for both sides to unite against the environmental threat. Label by Jonathan Yoder