Crossing Boundaries: Tierra y Esperanza (Land and Hope). Photographic series by Richard Stefani

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©Richard Stefani/Stefani Photography Inc

"Harvest Youth–Jimmy" A young boy stands amid dense foliage, clutching freshly picked beans with steady hands. His patterned shirt, a small burst of individuality, contrasts with the uniform rows of crops stretching beyond. His half-smile hints at both the simplicity of childhood and the premature weight of labor.

A compelling documentary-style photographic series by internationally recognized Salem photographer Richard Stefani (1933-2022), Crossing Boundaries: Tierra y Esperanza (Land and Hope) immerses viewers in the lives of Mexican farmworkers in Woodburn, Oregon, over 24 hours during the summer of 1965.

Experience a transformative glimpse into 1965 through evocative black-and-white photographs that chronicle the grit, hope, and resilience of Mexican farm workers in Woodburn, Oregon. Crossing Boundaries: Tierra y Esperanza (Land and Hope) captures a single day of relentless labor and quiet defiance, illuminating a dual journey across physical and cultural frontiers. Blending English and Spanish, the exhibition title underscores the workers’ profound ties to the land they cultivate and the enduring optimism that fuels their struggle.

Originally displayed to fierce community backlash, these images laid bare the racial and economic injustices that many preferred to ignore. Today, they stand as a resonant testament to the spirit of migrant workers who balanced hardship with aspiration, forging ahead despite exploitation, discrimination, and the demands of an unfamiliar world. Step into this powerful documentation of migration, survival, and unity—and reflect on the shared human pursuit of justice and a better tomorrow.