Grayscale portraits line the wall of the Point of View Gallery in the Byward Market with a powerful message from the local homeless youth population: we’re not so different after all. Artist Kat Fulwider has placed each portrait and message directly at eye level on cardboard, reminiscent of the very signs held by Ottawa’s homeless population every day.
Voices of the Streets is a collaborative art exhibit between Fulwider and several local homeless youth. The opening ceremony is designed to showcase the struggles of this marginalized group. Many in attendance were volunteers, like Fulwilder, and youths featured in the exhibit.
The event began with an open mic, kicking off a night of poetry, storytelling and music by Fulwider and several other street-involved youth. Visitors filtered in all evening until the room was full of people, street-involved and otherwise, singing and dancing along to every volunteer who took the stage.
The exhibit is dedicated to Cody Murray, a friend of Fulwider who passed away on the streets of Ottawa in February. His message, and many on the wall, capture a common struggle–the desire simply to be seen. This, the opioid epidemic, and the housing crisis are just some of the inspirations for Fulwider’s project.
“People don’t understand the effect that it’s having on kids on the street,” Fulwider said.
By presenting their messages in this way it “forces the viewer to look and see [that] there’s something important here on this sign,” she said.
Indigenous issues were also highlighted throughout the night.
“It is not an equal playing ground,” said Adam Guzman-Poole, a volunteer at the event. “Indigenous people are overrepresented in the homeless population substantially.”
Autumn Richardson, 19, was one of the many faces lining these walls, and attended the event to share her story and poetry written while she was on the street.
“My son saved my life,” said Richardson.
Fulwider said she hopes her artwork will help people understand that these are people, all too often forgotten, who have hopes and dreams just like the rest of us, and whose struggles we may never understand.
It’s important to “allow for a voice to come through,” said Fatima Remtulla, a local healer and vendor who has been involved with the local homeless population.
Each portrait is accompanied by another work of art, produced by a homeless youth. These works ranged from colourful abstract art to written words on cardboard foraged from the street.
“I’m not representing them, they are representing themselves,” said Fulwider.
The exhibit will be present at the Point of View Gallery in the Byward Market until Dec. 5, but the featured portraits, messages and more can be purchased in the form of a book. Proceeds from the book will go toward financing this and future editions of Voices of the Streets.
Correction: In a previous version of this article, it said Cody Murray died last year due to mental illness. He died this February. The Charlatan regrets the error.
Feature image by Erik Steiner.
