PULASKI, NY – The Salmon River Fine Arts Center recognizes National Homelessness Awareness Month in November with the opening of its fall member exhibit, “Homelessness in America in Scene and Story.” The free event takes place on Sunday, Nov. 3 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the arts center, located at 4848 N. Jefferson St., Pulaski.
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the artists as well as representatives from some of the local organizations that support the homeless population. To help the cause, 100% of the proceeds of the “Homelessness Exhibit” will go toward funding local organizations who support homeless people. Information about resources offered by some of these organizations will be available throughout the exhibition.
The display features watercolor and acrylic paintings by member artist Craig Anderson. Each painting is accompanied by a brief story written by his wife and partner, author Kelly Bargabos. The story brings each scene to life and gives voice to the often unheard and unseen homeless population.
While the exhibit features a variety of fine art created by members of the art center, this special and provocative display “was designed to bring awareness, inspire empathy, provoke action and to bring power and voice to homeless individuals in America,” said Bargabos.
This truly powerful and beautifully executed show offers a unique perspective that helps shift the growing bias of homeless people. As Bargabos points out in their show book, “The causes [of homelessness] are many and complicated, multiple and complex, and range from mental illness to addiction, from disabilities to lack of affordable housing, from history or racial injustice to the system itself.”
For Bargabos, it was personal. Her brother ran away from home when he was 16 years old and was homeless for five years. This compelled Bargabos to serve homeless individuals in her free time the way she hoped someone might be serving her brother. It was also the driving force for writing a memoir, as well as the book that accompanies the featured work of the show. Anderson and Bargabos’ desire is that the show will be a catalyst for change in some way.
For Pulaski, homelessness became a focus with the recent tragic death of Steve Woods on Saturday, Sept. 21. Woods was a resident of Pulaski who experienced homelessness. When Craig Anderson, a member of the Salmon River Fine Arts Center, approached a board member about this collection of work, the board felt it was important to find a way to display it during the member show to coincide with National Homelessness Awareness Month in November.
The moving depiction of homelessness, both in the scenes exquisitely painted by Anderson and in the thoughtful voiceBargabos adeptly gives to each character, will tug at your heart strings. The show is something everyone should take time to see – since true change starts with awareness of a problem.
In addition to this special display, the annual member exhibit showcases a variety of work in different genres as well as hand-crafted ornaments. The exhibition will be on display from Thursday, Oct. 31 to Saturday, Jan. 18 in the Salmon River Fine Arts Center and can be seen during gallery hours on Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Salmon River Fine Arts Center is an all-volunteer run, 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that offers community art programs for all ages, hands-on workshops and art shows that help educate and enrich the local community.
To learn about upcoming classes, programs and shows, or how you can support and get involved with this community organization, email [email protected] or call 315-298-7007.
For more information, go to salmonriverfineartscenter.com or find the Arts Center on Facebook at facebook.com/SalmonRiverFineArtsCenter/.
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