Through Their Eyes: Documenting the Positive Aspects of Homelessness Through Art
Stripping away blankets, cardboard signs, park benches, and other material objects that forever root individuals in the stereotypical classification of homelessness, Anneee has chosen to depict solely the eyes of homeless individuals on found pieces of wood. Anneee hopes to undermine media-driven assumptions about homelessness by removing external cues of poverty and maintaining the emotion universally found in the human gaze. Over this past summer, Anneee met people living in the homeless communities of Portland, Maine; Iowa City, Iowa; Enid, Oklahoma; and Fresno, California. While some graciously declined to be interviewed, many were eager to share their stories and be photographed. Some cried, most laughed, and all had eyes to tell more than any interview ever could.
At the time of this exhibit, Anneee was a junior majoring in Human Biology, with a minor in Studio Art. In order to stay sane while in the throes of pre-med requirements, she has taken several of Professor Xiaoze Xie’s painting courses while at Stanford. When not grappling with issues surrounding preventative health or spending time in the studio, Anneee can be found playing ultimate frisbee or chillin’ on the back porch at Synergy.
This project was generously supported by the Stanford Arts Institute’s Spark! Grant.
Rhonda – Fresno, California
“I’m here because I want to be here. Because I’m dying. I used to be on the streets when I was younger and I feel comfortable here. Since I’m going to die, I want to be relaxed. The only thing I don’t like is the flies and the dirt.” Rhonda has advanced breast cancer, but watching her strut up and down the tent-lined streets outside the Poverello House homeless shelter, one wouldn’t be able to tell she was sick. I was particularly drawn to Rhonda’s eyes. At the time I met her, she was wearing blue contacts framed by white mascara, shaved eyebrows, caramel skin, and short, bleached hair. When I told her I would only be painting her eyes, she put her manicured hands up to her face.
Steve – Enid, Oklahoma
Four years ago, Steve got hit by a car while riding his bike. Because of his outdoor living conditions, he wasn’t able to keep his left leg from getting infected. He now has a prosthetic leg below the knee. As soon as I took out my camera, Steve was eager to show me photos he’d taken on his flip phone. Even though I’m pretty sure at least two were the generic sunset and ocean backgrounds that come in phones, he was quite proud of his photos. He offered the following advice: “If nothing else, take me as an example. Take the opposite road. If you have any ambition, go for it.”
Ed – Enid, Oklahoma
“I’m currently looking for work: carpenter, painter, window washer. I’m a jack of all trades, but a master of none.” Ed is covered in tattoos and at first looks unapproachable. He’s incredibly proud of his two sons, both living in Denver and managers of KFC fast food restaurants. “When I was young I did a lot of drugs and hard things. When my kids were born, I mellowed out a bit. I talk to them everyday.” Ed has been homeless in Enid for seven months. Before I left, he pulled me aside to share one last story. With a big smile, he told me that he might have found his third wife, a woman who is also homeless in Enid.
Richard – Portland, Maine
Dressed in fishnet stockings, cowboy hat, and blue scarf, Richard was waiting at a bus stop when I stopped to speak with him. Whether you choose to believe it or not, he has known Sean Connery since 1957, lived down the street from Bruce Willis, and was the subject of Norman Rockwell’s “The Runaway” and “Batter Up” as a boy. As soon as he started telling me about his life, I could tell he loved every opportunity to share his story with others.
John – Enid, Oklahoma
“I’ve lived on the streets in Texas, California, and Nevada. I stay here because I got family here. You can be on the streets one day and in a place the next. I just look around for a place to stay. I don’t really have a daily routine, whatever pops up, that’s what I do.” John was quiet and provided short answers to my questions. His slim frame and deep, intermittent cough suggested he was dealing with some health issues. Nonetheless, he was very much supportive of my project and more than willing to talk with me. His light blue eyes were penetrating.
Pistol – Portland, Maine
Pistol was part of a group of seven or so young, homeless people I came across in downtown Portland. They all had large backpacks, presumably carrying the total sum of their personal possessions. They explained to me that they are intentionally homeless, traveling around the country, staying in one place just long enough to accumulate the money to move on. After talking for a while, I discovered that Pistol was originally from Fresno, my hometown. I could tell he was bright and had a great sense of humor. He made faces in all of the photos I took of him. When I asked him what he wanted to be in life, he answered: “A pile of soil. I don’t believe in grand narratives or an ultimate goal. Instead, have a clear understanding of this experience.”
Mark (aka Turtle) – Fresno, California
“Look in the pained eyes of these people. They don’t have a positive view. They won’t even look you straight in the eye.” Mark was born and raised in Fresno and became part of a gang as a teenager. Just out of prison, he has learned a lot about himself and life since his days of selling marijuana and speed out of peoples’ garages and storage units. His goal is to leave the homeless shelter and move to his grandma’s ranch in San Benito County to raise sheep, chickens, and have a horse. Just looking at Mark, you would not be able to tell he was homeless. He takes pride in wearing clean clothes. “You can’t let your personal hygiene go. The further you fall out of society, the more people would rather give you a dollar to get you to go away.”
Whitney – Portland, Maine
Whitney was part of a group of seven or so young, homeless people I came across in downtown Portland. She’s been hitchhiking and catching rides on freight trains for four years, never staying in one place for too long. “I just get itchy. Can’t be in one place for too long. Get’s stagnant.” She travels with a ukulele so she can use her musical talent to make a little money. The past ten months, she’s been traveling with David. They plan to get married soon and are thinking of trying to settle down somewhere.
Dean – Fresno, California
In 1992, Dean lost his job and was convinced to go live in the group home of a preacher in Fresno. In order to live in the home, the preacher made residents panhandle in front of stores around Fresno. It ended up being a complete scam and the “preacher” spent all the money on heroin and gambling. Dean has had several temporary jobs since then, but says he is now too old to work and too young to get Social Security benefits. Despite this, he is able to keep a relatively positive outlook on life. “There are too many people walking around here hating life. It’s hard to not be depressed sleeping out along the railroad tracks every night. I know feeling down and negative is bad. I figure I need to go out everyday and be as positive as I can be.”