In/Visible Series: Miguel Berrios

Often, a worker is seldom seen or heard; they blend into the background, only to be summoned when there is work to be done. They are expected to "get the job done no matter the cost" because they ultimately are just another cog in the machine. Visible when needed and Invisible otherwise. This should not be the case, as workers are not one-dimensional background characters. They are human beings.

In the summer of 21’ while I was at an artist residency at Chautauqua School of Art, I had the honor and pleasure to meet and work collaboratively with Miguel Berrios to make this temporary installation piece about him.

By trade, Miguel is a Puerto Rican man who has worked at Chautauqua Institute as an electrician for the past 15 years, but he is so much more than that. He is a husband, a father, and a son. He's an avid lover of nature who enjoys camping and DJing in his spare time. He loves to laugh and is the definition of "What you see is what you get". Initially, this project started off with the idea to meet with other workers at Chautauqua, but that quickly went out the window once I met Miguel. As the only Latino worker at Chautauqua, I instantly was drawn to Miguel. Although we come from different cultures, he reminded me so much of my parents, filled with a tenacity and positive outlook on life that is often seen within all the Latin communities. One that never falters and keeps us dreaming and hoping for a better tomorrow.

Photos by Brandon Ng