San Diego County is the inspiration for the project, which, as we know, is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California, recognized for its openness to welcoming refugees. As more people seek protection and safety, San Diego has shown exemplary hospitality by accepting and supporting more refugees than any other county in California. With its inclusive culture, integration, and resettlement programs, San Diego has become a symbol of hope and opportunity for those who have fled hardship seeking to start a new life. The way this inspiration is presented in the artwork is that this piece of art is a powerful representation of solidarity and compassion towards refugees. The part of the map of San Diego County and the hands holding it symbolize the willingness to share and offer them a safe territory. The multitude of individuals in the piece reflect refugees embracing the opportunity to live and rebuild their lives in a diverse place like San Diego County. Basically, this illustration portrays a great feeling of courage and a call for empathy and support for those fleeing hostility, forced displacement, and war conflicts.
I was also very inspired to make this piece of art when I learned about San Diego County's decision to set up a new welcome center for migrants and refugees in the North County (Alvarenga). The migrant and refugee community will benefit greatly from this initiative. This type of initiative provides them with a safe place to receive assistance and support to integrate into their new life in the United States. As the designer of this artwork, I'm happy that I was able to capture this moment of hope and solidarity in my work.
My artistic process for this work begins with the use of the Procreate application, and I borrowed my sister’s iPad, where I was able to bring my vision to life. I visualized the map of San Diego County as a base where this symbolically representing the future and current place of residence of lots of migrants and refugees. Through my artwork, I wanted to deliver a message of welcome and mutual help, so I included the representation of the hands offering support, and lastly, the persons symbolize those refugees who arrive in San Diego, CA, to their new home in search of stability and better opportunities.
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