This Is Our City

Nate, you are right. I didn't realize the installation was actually in the location. I saw the two middle class white women gallery goers looking at art on page 4 and made the assumption. I am always careful when I consider using homeless people as subjects in my portraiture. It is easy to consider them as interesting, colorful subjects without taking into consideration that they are in the midst of tragedy. I still believe that when Jesus confronted the homeless he would heal the sick, preach the gospel and cast out demons, not simply befriend them. We can do no less. But I don't want to judge Jason. Good project Jason! I'm sure many of these thoughts went through his head as well. But these are the dilemmas that artists and photographers find themselves in.

I don't know if I read the same article as you Rick. Weren't the images on display in a makeshift gallery in Skid Row? Weren't the subjects included in the displaying of the art? On top of that it sounds like the artist sat with his subjects, got to know them - together they created. I was reminded of this piece we did earlier for the City Project. http://www.christianitytoday.com/thisisourcity/detroit/art-of-restoration-i n-detroit.html

I don't know. I'm conflicted. When you treat people as a subject for art you objectify them. Then you put them on display in galleries uptown so wealthy white people can have an esthetic experience. These are real people, someone's father or mother who is being held captive by disease, drugs or demons. I know how Jesus would react and it wouldn't be to stop and do charcoal portraits for an exhibition. I am an artist, I do portraits, the character in the faces of these tragic people is very seductive to an artist. I appreciate Jason but I am conflicted.