The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

New twist to art  project

Traveling homeless exhibition  to open downtown next week.

Submitted photo

ENLARGE PHOTO

Trial set in scuffle involving councilman
New 20 min. ago
Youth leadership conference next week
New 21 min. ago
Hispanic rights group rallies against Arizona-like law here
Updated 26 min. ago
Murder suspect arrested
9:31 p.m.
Tearful, final farewells given to former editor
6:05 p.m.
> More headlines

E-mail this page

By Eric Robinette and Ryan Gauthier, Staff Writers Updated 4:45 PM Monday, November 16, 2009

Art will grace the streets of the city  this holiday season, kicking off on Sunday, Nov. 22.

Miami Middletown Downtown will host a reception for work by the Guerilla Arts Collaborative from 3 to 5 p.m., offering free warm beverages and entertainment by local musician Chuck Evans. Central Avenue will be closed to traffic during the event, allowing attendees to enjoy free horse-drawn carriage rides through the district. The stage at Governor’s Square Park will host performances by several area musicians starting at 5 p.m., culminating with the lighting of the city’s holiday tree at 6 p.m.

That same day, a traveling exhibit called “Homeless: Telling Our Own Stories” will open downtown, replacing the Got Art walks of the past, in which local artists would contribute their work.

The homeless exhibit consists of three series, all of which are meant to ask the viewer to consider homelessness in a different way. It’s being installed locally by the Art Central Foundation, of which Sue Rogers is the director. She noticed that the Got Art work tended to be submitted by the same artists.

“I had been looking for a way to freshen up the idea of Got Art, and it kind of fell into my lap,” she said.

She met with David Binder, a director at Oaks Community Church in Middletown, who had been looking for a way to bring the homeless exhibit here. It originated out of Louisville, Ky., though the Jefferson Street Baptist Center, a mission dedicated to serving the homeless.

The three series feature artwork by homeless people, including photographs taken by disposable cameras, and illustrations of the homeless people’s answer to the question, “In three years, what do you want to be doing?” A featured artist is Mark Anthony Mulligan, who has been homeless off and on for 20 years.

Finally, there are two multimedia installations. “Voices Real, Voices Unheard,” replicates the sensory experience of homelessness. It will be installed in the Middletown Public Library at 125 S. Broad St. The second exhibit, “A Home for the Homeless,” uses video interviews and a wall drawing to depict the plight of homelessness. It will be installed at First United Methodist Church, on Broad Street across from the library.

In addition, Rogers plans to localize the exhibit. She has already secured artwork from former residents of Hope House, Middletown’s homeless shelter, and hopes to convince residents to submit work.

“There seems to be a real misconception about what makes someone become homeless. This humanizes people who end up in the streets. These are people who have feelings, and people who create,” Rogers said.

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

dizzie, just look at the example. huwey, duwey and luwey could all do better, and they are just ducklings. that aint art, its graffiti. and it wont help our homeless problem to bring more bums to town and call them 'artists'. just saying it dont make it so. you call that art but complain about the nice professional job on the treasure chests windows. you folks aint right.

Daffy Duck
5:05 PM, 11/16/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Just because daffy doesn't "get art" doesn't mean its stupid. I think this is a great idea. However, about 10% of homeless people actually want to be homeless. And most of the homeless people now adays get cell phones, free food, clothes and a place to sleep. All they are doing is calling attention to the homeless problem we have in Middletow, and its about **** time. I always see ppl sleeping in store access door ways and in alley ways. This is a positive thing.

mdizzie
12:57 PM, 11/16/2009

REPORT ABUSE

But can they fix the potholes?

Artsie
12:42 PM, 11/16/2009

REPORT ABUSE

who decides this stuff and what gives them the authority to do so? must be someone daffier than me. that got art stuff was bad enuff and this sounds worse. what is 'wall art'? sounds like grafiti. these peeps are nutz.

Daffy Duck
1:43 AM, 11/16/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Whst a wonderful idea to bring the raw creative talent of street artists to Middletown during these holidays. Kudos to Sue Rogers and her colleagues. Cannot wait to see the exhibits.

Ethel S
12:10 AM, 11/16/2009

REPORT ABUSE

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.