Wheatpaste

Due to time constraints, I've settled on creating an image in Photoshop and wheatpasting it up. Following Hanaa el Degham's example, I will also be bringing charcoal and a little paint with me to see about doing a mixed media piece.

Here is my current design:

The background is white, but my plan is to cut her out and wheatpaste her directly onto the wall. More words will be filled in below her sign so it reads "Huelga! No trabajen por 6¢!" which in English translates to "Strike! We will not work for 6¢!" 

The sign that I will paint is based on the ones held by these workers.

 This refers to the wage cuts that caused the pecan shellers to strike. As Tenayuca noted in her interview, payment for 1lb of shelled pecan halves was lowered from 7¢ to 6¢, reducing an already atrociously low salary.

In my research, I found previous art honoring Emma Tenayuca. In December 2011, a state marker commemorating Tenayuca's achievements was dedicated in San Antonio.  The article discusses a little about Tenayuca's history and activism, applauding her for leading "a movement that fought deplorable working conditions, discrimination and unfair wages on behalf of the city's working poor.”  It also mentions a children's book that was written about Tenayuca called "No Es Justo" which conveys her strong moral sense of justice1.

Sources:

1. Elaine Ayala, "Marker to Honor Labor Leader," San Antonio Express (San Antonio, Tx), Dec. 12, 2011, http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Marker-to-honor-labor-leader-2416153.php#next.

Image Credit:

Emma Tenayuca, "Living History: Emma Tenayuca Tells Her Story," Texas Observer, Oct. 28, 1983, 15.