“We Are You” is an ongoing project to give expressive voice to unhoused Ukiahans.
Largely ignored (except when behavior by a small minority interferes with laws or public decorum), unhoused people are perhaps the most marginalized community here. The painful truth is that we are all one job loss, weather event, or major medical bill away from being without a home.
UCSF has found that regardless of other factors, 78-82% of homeless people have deep roots in their current area. Many are working people or students who live in their cars when not “couch surfing” with friends and family. An increasing percentage are seniors.
Local artists Janet Rosen (painting and mixed media), Laura Fogg, and Betty Lacy (fiber and textile) have been leading workshops with the clients and residents at Building Bridges since July 2024, thanks to the support and shared vision of the staff there and an Arts and Culture grant from the Community Foundation of Mendocino County.
Janet has slowly been working on participants to think beyond gluing down pretty photos to explore picture-making ideas like negative space, fractured images, and reacting purposefully to suggested themes. She’s preparing to make a jump to themes of identity and portraiture/self portraiture for those who are interested, while continuing to make materials and time available for those who just need to play.
Laura and Betty have been working together since the beginning of the year to support people through the process of making small art quilts related to the prompt “Where is a place that you would like to be?” Using their imaginations, memories and courage, people have been diving into a bin of scrap fabrics which they can tear, cut and glue into a composition that reflects their special place. The pieces are then quilted and bound by Laura and Betty to create little masterpieces that delight (and sometimes overwhelm) the participants who have never thought of themselves as artists.
Our goal from the start has been to encourage and support workshop participants to share their visions, stories, and humanity. The resulting art will be curated and installed in public venues throughout Ukiah in order to break down the barriers of stigma and outsider status, because truly We Are You.
Betty, Janet, and Laura would like to thank the clients, residents, and staff at Building Bridges for making this project a reality. We thank both the Community Foundation of Mendocino County and Art Center Ukiah for supporting our vision, and as always the Ukiah Public Library and its staff for creating a space that is welcoming to all Ukiahans and available to the local arts community.
‘We Are You’ will be on display at the Ukiah Library until June 28. There will be a second Art Walk opening on Friday, June 6 from 5 to 7 p.m., accompanied by the music of Clay Hawkins, an all-ages matchbox altar craft, and the Ukiah Valley Friends of the Library Book Sale from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, June 6, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 7.
The Ukiah Library’s regular hours are Tuesday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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