National Center for Farmworker Health
Annual Commemorative Artwork
Meet the Artist... Jeri Desrochers
Annual Commemorative Artwork
Meet the Artist... Jeri Desrochers
Jeri Desrochers’ vibrant paintings capture the people and landscape of the southwest desert in intense colors and thick oil paint. Desrochers grew up on a small family-run farm in the Midwest and is descended from a long line of agricultural workers. During her childhood, she helped her parents in the fields and with the farm animals, treasuring that special memory of hardworking people who lived close to the land.
The first member of her family to attend a four-year college, Desrochers worked for over 25 years for a large nonprofit that served many low income and indigent people. “I know how difficult it is for many people to get by and keep their family healthy. I hope that my artwork honors those who bring the food to our tables through their labor. They deserve our respect and gratitude.”
A recent project for the artist has been the traveling exhibit, “Braceros – Melding History and Art .” The exhibit tells the story of the Bracero Program, a national government-run effort to bring agricultural workers to the United States from Mexico, that began during the labor shortages of World War II . Along with the work of a sculptor, Desrochers’ paintings, depicting farmworkers, have appeared in several venues in New Mexico and will be exhibited at a museum in Nebraska this fall.
Desrochers has received numerous awards including Best of Show at the Sunbowl Art Exhibit and the El Paso Arts International. Her work is included in the State of New Mexico Public Art Collection and the El Paso Public Art Collection, as well as numerous other public and private collections.
Desrochers’ artwork can be viewed online at www.jerisstudio.com.
The first member of her family to attend a four-year college, Desrochers worked for over 25 years for a large nonprofit that served many low income and indigent people. “I know how difficult it is for many people to get by and keep their family healthy. I hope that my artwork honors those who bring the food to our tables through their labor. They deserve our respect and gratitude.”
A recent project for the artist has been the traveling exhibit, “Braceros – Melding History and Art .” The exhibit tells the story of the Bracero Program, a national government-run effort to bring agricultural workers to the United States from Mexico, that began during the labor shortages of World War II . Along with the work of a sculptor, Desrochers’ paintings, depicting farmworkers, have appeared in several venues in New Mexico and will be exhibited at a museum in Nebraska this fall.
Desrochers has received numerous awards including Best of Show at the Sunbowl Art Exhibit and the El Paso Arts International. Her work is included in the State of New Mexico Public Art Collection and the El Paso Public Art Collection, as well as numerous other public and private collections.
Desrochers’ artwork can be viewed online at www.jerisstudio.com.
interview with artist, Jeri Desrocher
Read about Jeri's experience as our 2019 Commemorative Artist.
What inspired you to respond to the NCFH Call for Artist announcement, would you be interested again?
As I learned about what NCFH and its members do I realized how critical these functions are to helping the people who are so often overlooked. I did not know before being contacted that there was an association for people doing this work. Through my art I hope to raise awareness of farmworkers and their critical role in feeding America, and this organization is certainly doing that. I would be interested in participating again.
Did you learn anything new about the ag worker population through this experience?
I learned some things about the historical struggle for farmworker rights that I did not know before. It was very interesting and inspiring to hear Dolores Huerta speak and to understand more about what she had to go through and what she accomplished. The interchange between her and Ms. Kennedy Townsend was fascinating.
What was your “take home” (i.e. favorite, or most memorable part) of this experience?
The best part of the conference was meeting people who are doing such important and generous work. I know that they could be making more money in other positions but I really felt their sincere desire to make life better for others.
Will this experience influence your future artwork? If so, how?
I would like to try to find more women ag workers to portray. They have been in the minority of workers I have seen in my area, but play such a critical role.
What inspired you to respond to the NCFH Call for Artist announcement, would you be interested again?
As I learned about what NCFH and its members do I realized how critical these functions are to helping the people who are so often overlooked. I did not know before being contacted that there was an association for people doing this work. Through my art I hope to raise awareness of farmworkers and their critical role in feeding America, and this organization is certainly doing that. I would be interested in participating again.
Did you learn anything new about the ag worker population through this experience?
I learned some things about the historical struggle for farmworker rights that I did not know before. It was very interesting and inspiring to hear Dolores Huerta speak and to understand more about what she had to go through and what she accomplished. The interchange between her and Ms. Kennedy Townsend was fascinating.
What was your “take home” (i.e. favorite, or most memorable part) of this experience?
The best part of the conference was meeting people who are doing such important and generous work. I know that they could be making more money in other positions but I really felt their sincere desire to make life better for others.
Will this experience influence your future artwork? If so, how?
I would like to try to find more women ag workers to portray. They have been in the minority of workers I have seen in my area, but play such a critical role.
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"Chili Harvest" by the artist Jeri Desrochers
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