Artist Puts Fake Gardeners Near Clooney’s House Before Obama Fundraiser

May 10, 2012

Ramiro Gomez painted the piece above specifically for Obama’s visit. (Photo: Jorge Rivas/Colorlines.com) Click image to enlarge.

Ramiro Gomez says he’s wanted to place his cardboard paintings of Latino domestic workers and gardeners in front of locations that President Obama has visited but it’s just never worked out.

But this time around it was different.

Obama is expected to arrive in Los Angeles Thursday evening to attend a fundraiser at George Clooney’s house off Laurel Canyon in the Studio City area. Less than a mile away from where Gomez himself is a domestic worker by day.

Gomez, 25, who identifies as a "male nanny," says he didn’t have to work too hard within his network to find Clooney’s address.

"Every other piece I’ve done has been on a non-news day but today is a busy day," Gomez told Colorlines.com as he was putting his pieces up on a cross-street leading up to Clooney’s home.

The Long Beach Press-Telegram reports that the 150-person guest list includes the likes of Barbra Streisand, Robert Downey Jr., and Tobey Maguire. With tickets reportedly going for $40,000 each, a conservative estimate for tonight’s fundraiser is $6 million.