Seeing through the Eyes of Columbia’s Homeless
tpearson June 5th, 2008
While I Breathe, I Hope: Columbia’s homeless share their stories through words and images
A unique photography exhibit opens at the Columbia Museum of Art on June 19 and runs through August 3. The exhibit offers a way to learn about homelessness in Columbia through the eyes of people who live it daily. While I Breathe, I Hope (Dum Spiro Spero): Columbia’s homeless share their stories through words and images is a unique collaboration between individuals who are homeless, the USC Department of Psychology, Midlands Interfaith Homeless Action Council (MIHAC), Central Carolina Community Foundation, and the Columbia Museum of Art with support from the City of Columbia, and several local businesses.
A team of PhD candidates at USC, David Asiamah, Greg Townley, and Dorian Lamis, supervised by Bret Kloos, PhD, met with people in Columbia’s emergency shelters who were interested in telling their story through pictures. Individuals used cameras to document their daily experiences living as homeless individuals in Columbia. The exhibit features 35 photographs (by 16 artists) grouped in ten thematic categories, including legal challenges faced by homeless individuals, ways that homeless people make money in Columbia, and types of shelter that homeless individuals use to survive.
The exhibit uses a method called Photovoice to promote community dialogue about issues from different perspectives. In particular, it seeks to engage community members in learning from people whose perspectives are often overlooked, in this case, people who are homeless. Photovoice combines photography with consciousness raising that can inform social action.
One of the principles behind the method is that individuals can document and articulate their experience rather than be defined by others. The team wanted to hear the experiences of homeless people in Columbia and help interested individuals share the stories that they felt comfortable being public.
The team hopes the exhibit can be one means of increasing awareness of the challenges and resilience of homeless people in Columbia. The artists in the exhibit have told stories that counter stereotypes and stigma often assigned to the homeless population in Columbia. It is hoped that many people who view the exhibit will participate in discussions about how we as a community can better address the daily needs and challenges of homeless people. The exhibit includes opportunities for learning more about homelessness and how people can get involved.
We want you to share your thoughts about the exhibit. Once you’ve seen the exhibit, please come back to this site and post your comments.
Rev. Amos Disasa explains how MIHAC became involved with the Photovoice project.
To watch a clip from WLTX about the exhibit, click here.
Details of the exhibit:
Location: Columbia Museum of Art (corner of Main and Hampton Streets)
Dates of show: The show will open on June 19th and run from June 20th to August 3rd
Hours: The daily hours for the show are as follows
Wed-Thurs: 10 AM - 5 PM
Friday: 10 AM - 9 PM
Saturday: 10 AM - 5 PM
Sunday: 1 PM - 5 PM
Cost: Free for museum members
$5 for non-members
$2 for students
$4 for military and seniors
Free admission on Saturdays
Education programs accompanying the exhibit:
• Family Fun Night on July 11th from 5 PM to 8 PM
• Saturdays (subject to change):
July 12th
July 19th
July 26th
Sponsoring organizations:
• USC Department of Psychology
• Midlands Interfaith Homelessness Action Council (MIHAC)
• Central Carolina Community Foundation (www.yourfoundation.org)
• Columbia Museum of Art (www.columbiamuseum.org)
With support from:
• City of Columbia
• Walgreens
• Earthfare
- Homelessness
- Comments(1)
I am looking forward to going to this event and plan to encourage everyone I know to attend. Homelessness is a REAL issue in the Midlands and I honestly believe that all who visit the exhibit will walk away with a REAL understanding of this.