HAILEY, Idaho — In the Wood River Valley, art sparks a conversation about compassion, unity, and the unseen hands behind the community's beauty.

Hailey artist José Hurtado is using his creativity to honor the immigrant community, which he says is often overlooked.

“There’s always been an immigrant population in Hailey,” Hurtado said, pointing to Chinese railroad workers, Peruvian sheepherders and Mexican laborers who have all shaped the valley’s history. “I hope people feel compassionate and willing to include everybody in our community.”

Hurtado designed a colorful sign depicting families of different generations alongside a flower being uprooted. It's a symbol, he says, of migrants who provide resources and stability much like pollinator species do for Idaho's ecosystem. He drew inspi

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