This is a sculptural piece created by Tyler Hodgins, as part of a larger show called Throw Down at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. It is made of ice and a water soluble pigment, and represents a homeless person in a sleeping bag. This one was on Fisgard Street, in chinatown but each Saturday he places them in a different location. I love art that stops you in your tracks and makes you think. Homelessness is an issue in Victoria as in most urban centers the world over. There is some good work being done, and this photo to the left is one example that gives me hope. This beautiful building, located at 950 Humboldt Street, houses people with addictions or mental illness who have been chronically homeless for more than a year. Built by Pacifica Housing, they are an incredible organization working to make a difference in our community. - Fern
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Sunday, April 1, 2012
Homelessness in Victoria
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4 comments:
Thx for the write-up. A couple of weeks ago I passed on of these on the bench by the Selkirk Trestle. It was blue and I only glanced at it as I flew by on my bike. Thought it really was a homeless person who had wrapped himself up in blue plastic as s/he slept on the bench.
When I returned later that day, someone had pushed it to the ground. It was broken, partly melted and that's when I realized what it was and wondered where it had come from.
OMG I thought it was a dead body in a tarp! Homelessness is an issue everywhere, unfortunately. I first became aware of it in the 80s when I went to college in Boston. It's sad that many prefer not to go into shelters where they face bedbugs and theft. Sounds like that's a great organization though, better than many other shelters.
Green - colour of hope.
Interesting indeed. Please have a good Tuesday.
Thanks for this post, I stumbled upon this only recently! Great shot of the Fisgard Sleeping Bag, one that was used in another blog called Doing It Homeless, and I had wondered where it had come from. Did you take it? May I have a copy?
Cheers,
Tyler Hodgins
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