Colors of Resilience 2023: Future of the Project
written in September 2023
I am so grateful for the outcome of the Colors of Resilience: An Exhibit of Artwork by Those Experiencing Homelessness project, as funded by the City of Windsor’s Arts, Cultural, and Heritage Fund.
January 2023, I applied for a grant to host workshops at various shelter programs in the city, as well as to rent out gallery space to give our friends without fixed addresses, our homeless homies, a chance to showcase and sell their art.
The idea behind this project was to provide equal opportunity to artists with talent who deserved the exposure, and I would like to focus on the overall effect of the project on the artists who were featured in the gallery, and who were actively taking part in the exhibit.
I was given $1080 by the City of Windsor to put this project on, and we turned that into $2795 to be given to the artists involved. To me, that is insane considering I did not even come close to knowing what to expect because of two reasons:
getting people to care about the arts in Windsor is a bit more on the difficult side
getting people to care about art by people experiencing homelessness was going to be another challenge
I came up with this project after I met one of the featured artists, Ann Reno. Ann Reno came into my life in January 2023 when I saw her walking by with a pair of green boots that were covered in very intricate, cool-looking designs. When I asked her where she found them, Ann explained to me that the designs were her doing! She then proceeded to pull out an entire portfolio of Salvador Dali-esque surrealist drawings that she was selling to afford packs of smokes, and basic needs. I thought this was criminal since these drawings were like nothing I have been exposed to before. Ann was one of the greats.
As an abstract, self-taught artist, it takes a specific kind of person to enjoy looking at my art, and even more to purchase it. After being hosted by my local bar/creative hub, Phog Lounge, I was exposed to a much bigger audience of people who enjoy my art. That was because one person saw the potential in my art, and gave me a chance at making it as an artist. Phog Lounge hosts monthly art shows, at no charge to the artist, and allowed me to occupy their walls on 2 separate occasions as an independent artist, and once in a group show. All 3 times my art was purchased. Phog Lounge was the true inspiration behind this project! What I learned during my time occupying their walls was that if more people see your art, more people will know about your art, and this was the chance we wanted to give our artists.
Since the end of the 2023 Colors of Resilience exhibit hosted by Artspeak Gallery, here are some artistic developments I’ve found in our participating artists:
At least 3 of the featured artists have started their own Instagram pages where they showcase just their art. One of our artists already had a page, but has since gained momentum in followers.
One of our artists has been commissioned to create more pieces as audiences were inspired by her work.
I have received a huge influx of inquiries about how to get more involved with the community, and how to volunteer for this project.
One of our artists has started another project after he was exposed to the right partner as a result of this project.
Two of our artists are coming back as volunteers of the project.
This is a short but mighty list of accomplishments, considering the impact of each one listed. This is a group of creative and underexposed artists who were granted the same opportunity Phog Lounge provided for me at the beginning of my art career. What they do now will be more informed, and driven, to the focus they acquired during their time as featured artists.
Make sure to keep up with them (and us!!) on Instagram:
@heartfromthestreets
@macsmilkbandit
@agarothsart
@maaiinganartistry
