Sergio de la Torre has been investigating data and true stories of undocumented immigrants under San Francisco’s Sanctuary City policies for more than a decade. In partnership with Chris Treggiari and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, his research and artmaking on the topic is taking a new form as the Sanctuary City/Ciudad Santuaro Print Shop, which can be found just inside the the Center’s entrance from July 20 through October 23, 2017.
Visitors are invited to print their own posters or participate in a workshop about the concept of being a “sanctuary city” as well as disseminate information on recently enacted immigration policies and how they impact our community. Sharing art and infographics, leading silkscreen workshops, and distributing printed material throughout the city, Sanctuary City Print Shop serves as a resource center and catalyst for the movement to uphold immigrants’ rights.
The Creative Work Fund supported development of Sanctuary City/Ciudad Santuario, through a collaboration among de la Torre, Instituto Familiar de la Raza, and students at the San Francisco Art Institute. The original version of the project was presented at the former Queen’s Nails Annex in 2009.