Oscar Lopez: Without Them Is Not Us
September 14, 2024 – Ongoing

Without Them Is Not Us is part of emerging artist Oscar Lopez’s ongoing project Your Food, My Work, Our Land. This Facade Project honors the history and legacy of farmland in San José and the Santa Clara Valley, recognizing the labor of Japanese, Filipino, and Mexican farm workers. From the 1800s into the 20th century, their work made the region one of the nation’s most important producers of fruits and vegetables.

As the city evolved, much of this agricultural heritage was erased, displacing communities and transforming the “Valley of Heart’s Delight” into the tech hub of Silicon Valley. Remaining farmers face rising costs and ongoing threats to their livelihoods, impacting the quality of produce, our carbon footprint, and our connection to the land. Lopez’s mural urges reflection on the idea that Without Them Is Not Us—without the laborers who cultivate the land, society cannot thrive.

The ICA San José partnered with Local Color, a San José-based, artist-led nonprofit dedicated to building equitable pathways for creatives. Learn more at localcolorsj.org. Curated by Zoë Latzer, Curator and Director of Public Programs.