This immersive art
From Oct. 17 to 19, Hamilton-based non-profit
Located at 349 and 351 Barton
Lauren Galenkamp, the executive projects assistant at HHSM spoke to The Silhouette about the inspiration for the event. “A lot of the stories that I’ve heard from a lot of the friends at Helping Hands have shifted the way that I view a lot of things. It’s made me more compassionate. It’s made me softer as a person. It also has made me realize that not a lot of people get a chance to listen to those stories, so I wanted to make a space for our friends to tell their stories and for people to come and listen,” said Galenkamp.
A lot of the stories that I’ve heard from a lot of the friends at Helping Hands have shifted the way that I view a lot of things. It’s made me more compassionate. It’s made me softer as a person ... I wanted to make a space for our friends to tell their stories and for people to come and listen
Lauren Galenkamp, Executive Projects Assistant
Helping Hands Street Mission
Ten different stations were set up, each depicting a different person’s story. Works included photography, paintings, sculptures, spoken word, and dance. Attendees were encouraged to walk through the exhibit at their own pace. “Art is this incredible bridge and storytelling is this incredible bridge that makes it easier for us to think about things and to sit with things and wrestle with things,” said Galenkamp.
One of the artists is Sarah
The exhibit featured interactive components, including a station called “Tapestry” with writing prompts about the meaning of home. As attendees exited the exhibit, they were invited to write reflections on a large paper banner. There was also a children’s station with various activities.
The name “We’re All Neighbours Here,” was chosen to represent the community-based perspective that
We all have something to give. We are all neighbours in this space and we all care for this space together.
Lauren Galenkamp, Executive Projects Assistant
Helping Hands Street Mission
The decision to hold this fundraiser stemmed from a desire to change the annual HHSM fundraising gala. “Our galas always have so much in the program because we want so many friends to be able to share their story that it ends up being a very full evening of just friends telling stories. Which is so great, but is not what people want from a gala necessarily. It made us realize that maybe we should be doing an event that feels more like us and feels like it is more accessible, because galas are expensive,” said Galenkamp.
She added that the event was intentionally held outdoors to encourage people to consider the experiences of people who have to live outdoors, especially in cold and rainy weather.
Galenkamp said that she began planning the event in July and the process was supported by two artist coordinators and a group of volunteer mentors. Vik Mudge, one of the participating artists, discussed his experience participating in the show. “It’s been really interesting to meet folks from many different places and many different backgrounds and many different experiences. It’s been really powerful to talk to people and hear their stories and experiences,” said Mudge.
Another of the artists, Michael Irvine, echoed this sentiment. “Everything’s been very powerful with the friendliness in people. Everybody wants to help you. We don’t label it as love but there’s a lot of love,” said Irvine.
Galenkamp said she hoped that the exhibit would help people move forward with compassion. “What we need in this city pretty badly is more compassionate people in our neighbourhoods. I want my friends to be able to share their stories and for people to see them and be changed by them and be affected by them. I would love for it to have long term impact over the way that we see each other as neighbours,” said Galenkamp.
What we need in this city pretty badly is more compassionate people in our neighbourhoods. I want my friends to be able to share their stories and for people to see them and be changed by them and be affected by them. I would love for it to have long term impact over the way that we see each other as neighbours.
Lauren Galenkamp, Executive Projects Assistant
Helping Hands Street Mission
If you are interested in hearing people’s stories,
This digital hub aims to increase local engagement with arts and culture by connecting community members and artists with local arts events and opportunities
The Arty Crowd is the Hamilton Arts Council’s digital hub for connecting artists and community members with arts-related events in the city.
In 2017, a symposium called The Big Picture brought together local artists and arts organizations to examine challenges and opportunities for the community’s arts and culture scene. Out of this event came the idea to create a website housing arts-related resources.
David Huson, artistic director at the Hamilton Arts Council, explained that the process for organizing the website was lengthy. It involved collaboration with the local community through discussion with citizens. The website's creators looked at numerous case studies to learn what content would be relevant and useful for the website to include.
Even the name of the digital resource has a story, according to Hudson. The intent of the name is to take “the arty crowd,” once used disparagingly, and to re-purpose that for the community, giving it a new and more positive meaning.
"Basically there was a bit of uproar in the art scene, and Mayor Lloyd Jackson in 1959 declared. . .I've got the quote here: "The people of this city have made it abundantly clear that they want no part of this modern art. We can't let the arty crowd run things." We've reclaimed that name as The Arty Crowd," said Hudson.
Individual artists, art organizations, art lovers in the community and non-artists in creative industries can all create accounts on the website. The Arty Crowd website is controlled by the account holders themselves, where those who organize the events post their information, keep it updated and manage their general account. Hudson has pointed out that there are over 1,500 account holders.
The website focuses on these areas of content: chances to contribute to creative and artistic events, funding opportunities and employment opportunities. These are mainly posted by the users, but the Hamilton Arts Council does contribute from time to time. The events that are promoted are often local, but the website also promotes events outside of the city for those who have access and might be interested.
The Arty Crowd is a unique database for Hamilton due to its sole focus on the arts and the sense of autonomy for its users.
“I think there are event listings in Hamilton that do encompass some arts events, but they'll also encompass eating out and tourism," said Hudson.
Hudson also pointed out that the reception for the website has been warm and positive. Many arts organizations and artists have been taking advantage of the site and the support from the community has made it a successful endeavour.
Students should check out the website if they are interested in the arts community and would like to get involved with more events. Hudson also encouraged those who might not consider themselves to be artists, but who are creatively inspired, to get involved and still be able to contribute in some way, stressing that membership for artists and creatives is completely free.
“It's a portal to get connected with the arts in any way, whether it's just to attend and watch or whether it's to get involved or get connected. I encourage people, if you are an artist or creative or you contribute to the arts landscape, to set up an account, set up a profile and add your content,” said Hudson.
It's a portal to get connected with the arts in any way. . .I encourage people, if you are an artist or creative or you contribute to the arts landscape, to set up an account, set up a profile and add your content.
David Hudson, Artistic Director, Hamilton Arts Council
Hudson added that they are currently working on adding a new feature to the website for artists to look at spaces to show their work. Those who want to rent out a space will be able to look at profiles on the website and find their best fit.
The Arty Crowd is also currently running a TV show live on Cable 14 called The Arty Crowd Out Loud! where monthly episodes showcase local arts venues and events to build support and audience for the website’s purpose and the city’s art scene. The show can also be seen on demand here.
If any students are interested in attending arts events or would like to become more involved with the arts in Hamilton, The Arty Crowd is a great digital resource for locating these opportunities.
C/O @unshelteredthezine
“UNSHELTERED”: the zine shares the experiences of unhoused women and gender diverse folks
Homelessness across Canada became more widespread and visible during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, visible homelessness mostly describes homeless men. For unhoused women and gender-diverse folks, homelessness remains a largely hidden issue. With a lack of safe, adequate and appropriate shelters dedicated to these folks, they are more likely to avoid shelters, couch surf and remain in unsafe and/or abusive situations to access shelter.
Witnessing this unfortunate reality has inspired Samm Floren, a student in McMaster University’s post-degree bachelor of social work program, to bring to the limelight the experiences of homeless women and gender-diverse folks through the launch of her community project, “UNSHELTERED”: the zine. UNSHELTERED is a community art project aimed to sharing the stories of chronically unhoused women and gender-diverse folks who don’t access the shelter system in Hamilton for reasons including, but not limited to, restrictive service and shelter rules, being labelled as Do Not Admit or fear of discharge due to their mental health crisis, substance use or possession of harm reduction gear.
The zine’s goals are to instill creativity, provide a safe space for unhoused folks to voice experiences and raise public and institutional awareness of what it is like to live outside of the Hamilton shelter system. The first issue of the zine can be accessed through a Google Drive link and a physical printed copy can be found at Centre[3], Girl on the Wing, Handknit Yarn Studio and Partizanka Press, or requested via UNSHELTERED’s Instagram page on a pay-as-you-can basis.
To gather contributors, Floren, along with two other social work students, Stephanie Milliken and Alannah Maye, would reach out to those sleeping on the streets or living in encampments who were accessing drop-in spaces and programs at the YMCA and Mission Services in Hamilton. Mission Services has been especially helpful in providing her with contacts to folks with a history of being denied or unable to access shelters.
Those who agreed to contribute their artwork to the zine were provided a consent form and asked to express their experiences of being unhoused in Hamilton. After finishing their pieces, they were interviewed to describe what their pieces are about and to share their story. Their descriptions and experiences were included in the zine along with their artwork. All participating folks were remunerated with an honorarium consisting of a $30 gift card to Dollarama or Tim Hortons, art supplies and harm reduction kits.
The idea for the zine came about while Floren was working as a frontline shelter worker at a low-barrier program during January and February of this year. Seeing folks who were constantly being denied access to adequate housing, reading about homeless encampments, working the shelter system and not seeing any changes made to better support unhoused women and gender diverse folks motivated her to create a platform through which they could tell their stories to the larger community.
“[Folks] would become so frustrated and a lot of the time what they would say is, ‘I’m going to die out here on the streets.’ So that’s where the inspiration came from. But I think it’s important to note that folks have been telling their stories this entire time and UNSHELTERED is just a tool to do that,” explained Floren.
“[Folks] would become so frustrated and a lot of the time what they would say is, ‘I’m going to die out here on the streets.’ So that’s where the inspiration came from. But I think it’s important to note that folks have been telling their stories this entire time and UNSHELTERED is just a tool to do that."
Samm Floren, founder of UNSHELTERED
UNSHELTERED was also inspired by Floren’s love for art and her belief in the capacity of art to act as an outlet for self-expression. She had run an arts session a few years ago as part of the Transitional Living Program at the YMCA for unhoused folks and seeing first-hand the fulfillment art could bring to them was one of her favourite moments in the program.
“Just being there, being with folks and doing art, was just fun and I’ve carried that with me. The joy that people get from being able to just create is huge and I think that’s where a lot of [folk’s engagement with art] came from. We don’t have a lot of art supplies, it’s not something that people think of, but it’s something people love and cherish and use,” said Floren.
“Just being there, being with folks and doing art, was just fun and I’ve carried that with me. The joy that people get from being able to just create is huge and I think that’s where a lot of [folk’s engagement with art] came from. We don’t have a lot of art supplies, it’s not something that people think of, but it’s something people love and cherish and use.”
Samm Floren, founder of UNSHELTERED
The first issue of the zine included works from over 20 contributors, but it would not have been possible without strong community support. UNSHELTERED received monetary and supply donations from the community and organizations and lots of help from volunteers and partnerships. McMaster faculty and teaching assistants who were involved include Laurie Sherry-Kirk, Mary Vaccaro, Jennie Vengris and Jennifer Crowson. It was featured on the McMaster Social Work website and professors have been reacting positively to the zine by helping to spread the word and donating gift cards for honoraria.
Supporting organizations of the zine include Keeping Six, Mission Services, YMCA Transitional Living Program and Carole Anne’s Place and CUPE3906. Keeping Six in particular has been a major supporter of the initiative through inviting UNSHELTERED to the Unity Jam concert, which occurred in September. There, Floren was able to promote the zine and host harm reduction information sessions and naloxone training.
So far, Floren’s favourite responses have been from folks who contributed their artworks to the zine. She says it was exciting to see them receive a physical copy of the issue and react with so much positivity.
“I’m still tracking down a few people to give a hard copy of the zine and they were really excited — that was the biggest impact and that’s the goal. We want people to be excited and see other folks read it. So the feedback’s been pretty positive,” said Floren.
Floren wishes for UNSHELTERED to become a long-term initiative while staying true to sharing the stories and artwork of folks who are living outside the Hamilton shelter system. Additionally, she hopes she can organize more art drop-in sessions.
“The goal of UNSHELTERED is the artists and the people who are sharing their story. It’s amazing that it has support, but that’s where the focus needs to stay. What’s important is that UNSHELTERED is just a tool. It’s another way to get things out there and what people need to realize when they read it is that these stories have been there this entire time. Hopefully now they’ll be more willing to open their ears to it and listen if they weren’t before and make an effort to continue to do that,” said Floren.
Here’s hoping that UNSHELTERED is able to not only support those living outside the Hamilton shelter system, but also effect larger, more permanent change in the city and in relation to people’s perceptions of unhoused individuals.
