May the 4th be with you!!

May the 4^th be with Us!

Alas, I could not help myself, as I post this, my last blog-post for the semester.  Seeing the culmination of the efforts of all three student groups working together with “Marty and the Professors” was more than words can express.  The art students’ wall design just fascinates me.  It should be incorporated into any part of social engagement hence forth!  I like the presentation space to boldly get ideas communicated along with the awesome listening exchange spaces and the “pop-up performance” piece for public expression.  I want my own wall.  I do!  The architecture students’ scale models were so wonderful and very well thought out and designed for different people and spaces.  I wanted to shrink myself and take a walking tour.

I have been in contact with Betty Palmer, director of the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter,

                     http://shelterme.org/Home.aspx

                                                     

 to find out more about getting involved there.  I kind of slacked off the last couple of years due to other obligations and my studies.  This course has reignited my desire to have a positive impact on my community’s homeless population.  I really hope that the little house community becomes a reality, sooner, rather than later.

Next to being in love with the wall, my favorite thing about this project was the listening exchanges with the public.  I fell like the frigid temperatures did stall this somewhat, and that is unfortunate.  That said, the exchanges that I participated in were pretty valuable, for the most part.  I got to learn some pretty colorful details about a few folk’s lives, but hearing about their thoughts on the topics was great.  

Two young maybe high school or junior high school aged girls were my favorite.  They jointly shared their opinions and experiences with the homeless population in Portland.  The significant thought from their conversation was the importance of ownership in survival.  They both shared their thoughts on the hobo news, written and distributed by a homeless gentleman.

          http://www.portlanddailysun.me/index.php/opinion/columns/11921-hobo-news

                                       http://tides.bangordailynews.com/2014/09/11/home/rediscovering-portlands-forgotten-road-a-journey-into-hobo-jungle/

They told me how they thought it was fantastic that this man was able to access resources to be able to write, produce, print, and distribute his paper, asking for a donation for a product instead of just asking for money.  They shared how they saw that he looked like he was happy and that he had enthusiasm for what he was doing and that even in his circumstances; he was trying to help others by sharing about being homeless in his paper.

There were others, their faces sort of blending together now, but the sentiment was the same.  “We, the community, need to figure out better ways to meet the needs of our vulnerable population” and that “We are all not that far away from people in their situation.”

I had the experience of working with an ESL person, assisting him to read and understand quotes on the board.  He was very interested in what we were doing.  It was heartwarming that he pushed through the communication barrier with me and the interpretation of our English quotes to get a better understanding of what was being presented.

I hope to stay on top of hearing about how “Hearts, Minds & Homes: an Arts & Civic Listening Dialogue on Homelessness, Gentrification & the Middle” impacts Portland’s public housing.

I carried my camera with me during the event, but didn’t remember to utilize it.  I did get some great shots from the 2^nd floor dining area of the market as I sipped on coffee and had some warming soup.  I can’t wait to see other’s photos or the film that was captured during the event.

This has been by far, the most interesting course I have taken at USM.  I’m still trying to piece together what was learned from the experience.

              San conversing with two officers (after gaining permission to take their pictures)

                             Architecture students interacting with interested public citizens

Jess and Kate conversing with, I believe, the writer, publisher of "Hobo News"

                                       

            View from above the Market, second-floor dining area, warming with some coffee.

Some filming going on - no idea about the content or persons.

                                     

Significant Statements being applied to the wall, the beautiful wall <3

My significant statements: 

"Homeless?!  Why are you REALLY out here?" - rehab nurse

"You can't really ask, "Hey, how'd you get this way?  What happened?" - clinic dentist

"Services that out state provides draw homeless people from other places, inCREASING the homeless population and STRAIN our limited resources." - rehab nurse

View of the goings on from above, in the warmth of the upper room dining area.

                                      

                                                              View from above.

             Arriving at the wall; I parked at the campus and walked to Monument Square.

Marty and Michael, caught on film atanding still.  Rare photo.

                                     

Reverse Gentrification – May the Force be with You, George!

Reverse Gentrification – May the Force be with You, George!

http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2015/04/20/george-lucas-affordable-housing-development-orig-mg.cnn

Quote from the article:

“It’s inciting class warfare,” Carolyn Lenert, then head of the North San Rafael Coalition of Residents, told The New York Times at the time.  

WOW.  JUST WOW.

Another quote:

“We got letters saying, ‘You guys are going to get what you deserve. You’re going to bring drug dealers, all this crime and lowlife in here,’ ” Carl Fricke, a board member of the Lucas Valley Estates Homeowners Association, told the Times in 2012.

I wonder if this is the overall “private” opinion of those with plenty of resources, i.e., the “elite” who live if high price gentrified areas.

The article says that George plans to fund the development himself.  Go George!!

We need more of the elite to become involved in helping to solve our social issues and influence public policy as well as federal policy to help drive a restoration of our economy that will bring entry level jobs back to America, not just to create lower price-tiered housing, which is a partial fix of the pervasive problem with the whole situation.  That’s my opinion.  You’re welcome ;-)

I have said and will keep saying that when America “sold” our manufacturing industries out of the country, it would catch up with us, and it surely has.

We have allowed big business to take over our food industry, with federal government now regulating small business out of business because of the restrictive nature of rules and regulations that are cost prohibitive to small businesses.

We have allowed manufacturers to pull their businesses out of America and plant them in other countries where they can make HUGH profits while taking advantage of their new employees as well as Americans, when they can cheaply bring their cheaply made products back here and sell them for a large profit while contributing very little to our economy.

8 Reasons Why Rent is Too High

http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2014/01/06/260282186/eight-reasons-why-the-rent-is-too-damn-high

The above article for our readings did not mention this as part of the problem.  It's time to wake up America and look at the circumstances that took a significant amount of money out of our national economy in a VERY short period of time.  Our government needs to reverse the damage that has been done.

Observation:  Driving anywhere in Maine – chicken/poultry barns and other barns are either empty or being used for storage facilities, not for local food production.  This change eliminates many jobs.  You don’t need an employee on site at self-storage facilities.

Observation:  End of semester is here.  I notice the strained, distracted look on many students faces as they move around campus with LOTS on their minds.

Really Seeing the Waterfront

Powell, K. (2010). Making Sense of Place: Mapping as a Multisensory Research Method. Qualitative Inquiry, 16(7), 539-555. doi:10.1177/1077800410372600

This article explained the process of mapping very well.  I can see the value of gaining input in this way from many community representatives.  I live in the Waterville area and there is a parking lot downtown where many people who access downtown business park.  There is a very interesting large stainless steel sculpture situated in the middle of the parking lot and the driving lane was designed around it.

If they had gained insight from other community members regarding this design, the sculpture would be more pleasing to the population.  Every time I mention it to anyone who knows about it, they all say something like “yeah… that was a really stupid place to put that”.

Both traffic lanes must “circle” around where it is and it is a plowing nightmare for the work crews.  Nobody driving through that I have been with likes where it is.  They always have negative things to say about it because of where it is, not what it looks like or how they like the sculpture itself.

            If it were situated in the space where there are benches and gardens, I feel it would have garnered a much better public opinion.  I can see where utilizing various opinions in  planning stages in the way that is described in this article could help to better spend public monies for the benefit of all community members.

            The multisensory projects described gave me, the reader, a better understanding of the community used as the subject in a relatively fast time.  I particularly liked the bubble diagram of the waterfront relationships.  I think it gave a well rounded understanding of how everyone in the community utilized this area.

Observations

#1 While waiting for my teen to complete her driver’s license road test, I observed how most of the strangers freely exchanged memories of their testing experiences and their experiences of practice driving with their teens.  There was a noticeable feeling of tension and nervousness of people waiting for testing and those waiting for people being tested.  Those waiting to be tested remained quiet and visibly nervous.  Most people remained sitting while a few others paced and repeatedly looked towards the parking area.

#2 Later that day while waiting at the DMV while my daughter applied for her picture license (Yay!) I observed how solemn everyone waiting seemed.  No one interacted with people outside of the people they were with.  People watched those at the front who were at the widows taking care of their business or towards those posing for I.D. photos.  Some sat quietly reflecting on paperwork they held while others chatted or were looking at cell phones.  There were people of all ages; I noticed two sets of older adults with their adult children and observed a man and his father with a cane negotiate the paperwork process, then the photo process for a renewed driver’s license.  The older gentleman had assistance from his son to rise from the chair with his cane.

Lingering

Lingering

Creative Placemaking Readings

            I just could not help myself from adding this music for this Blog entry -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTg1n95--KE

Home – Phillip Phillip’s

Hold on, to me as we go

As we roll down this unfamiliar road

And although this wave is stringing us along

Just know you're not alone

Cause I'm going to make this place your home

Settle down, it'll all be clear

Don't pay no mind to the demons

They fill you with fear

The trouble it might drag you down

If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you're not alone

Cause I'm going to make this place your home

Settle down, it'll all be clear

Don't pay no mind to the demons

They fill you with fear

The trouble it might drag you down

If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you're not alone

Cause I'm going to make this place your home

Chorus of Ooo’s and Aaa’s and Ohhhhh’s

Settle down, it'll all be clear

Don't pay no mind to the demons

They fill you with fear

The trouble it might drag you down

If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you're not alone

Cause I'm going to make this place your home

Chorus

(The crowd goes wild!!!)

The ideas in the readings of having readily accessible public spaces for groups to meet for multiple purposes is something that I feel is incorporated into small communities all over Maine.  Growing up in small towns and in rural areas, I claimed my space in different places and spaces. Many Grange buildings in Maine are being revitalized and restored for their communities to utilize.  In East Vassalboro, we have a grange that holds many of its own events, always inviting others to come to find out what they are about.  They have open events to help bring community members together to get to know one another, like open mic coffee house nights and yes, contra dances, as well as craft fairs and public suppers.

Our local town office opens a space for monthly senior luncheons that sometimes also provides topic speakers or other information for community members.  Our fire station opens its doors to provide a space for a low cost rabies vaccine clinic annually for community members.  We have a sports field for youth sports, a public boat landing and picnic area, and various annual events aimed at supporting local things.  Our library is a cozy place with a woodstove, rocking chairs, children’s play area, computers, desks and tables.  A local entrepreneur who purchased a large abandoned factory facility has opened it for events like a Haunted House and craft shows as well as indoor paintball.  This generous man also cleaned up an area on the stream nearby, and created a public swimming area with a dock, float, picnic tables, boats and life preservers for anyone to use.

I knew all these things about my small community, but had not put them all together like this until now.  Of course there is more I have left unsaid, but many of these things are events, not continually open indoor places and spaces.  We have room for improvement and growth, for sure.

That said, I certainly can see and understand the need for readily accessible spaces for every citizen in every area.  I can see how creating spaces for citizens to come in and linger can help to revitalize urban areas and bring citizenry together who might not otherwise cross paths.

Artistic expression is a way to do that.  When families come together to watch some sort of children’s performance, community is built. 

            As I get to know the other families who are involved with my daughter’s Shakespearean theater group, I grow connections and gain a sense of belonging right along with my daughter.  We help one another out with transportation to the group and if other needs arise, the group works together to the benefit of one another.  Through pooling our meager recourses and creative skills, we help our children to be part of a pretty professional performance experience as well as provide quality entertainment for people of the community.  Our kids get to expand their own ideas of who they are and who they can become.  Everybody wins.

            Our course focus on promoting affordable housing and influencing policy on the behalf of those who need sustainable housing seems too big alone, but through the group effort of the project of Marty’s, already in motion, and the arts and architecture students, what is evolving is bigger than we could accomplish alone.  Although what we will be doing is an event, not a “Place”, the project seeks to involve the gamut of Portland community members.

            Whenever stakeholders have input, the true needs of all get discovered.  The roadblocks sometimes dissolve because of the common focus of the desired outcome.  People look for ways to make things happen when they might not otherwise.  I’ve seen it in projects that I’ve mentioned in previous blogs.  I’ve seen it in the building of the home I am in at this very moment. 

            Property value and maintenance fees and associated operating costs seem to me to be common road blocks to creating places that are open and accessible to everyone in a community for an indoor “lingering” experience.  We have outside spaces covered, I think.  In order for it to happen, it needs to be valued.  Maybe providing “events” can help make the need known and valued for more permanent “creative placemaking” in our communities

            Since I started with a song, I think I’ll end with one.  Because I can.  Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5HO-X_fR7o

I will wait for you - Mumford and Sons

Well, I came home

Like a stone

And I fell heavy into your arms

These days of dust

Which we've known

Will blow away with this new sun

But I'll kneel down,

Wait for now

And I'll kneel down,

Know my ground

And I will wait, I will wait for you

And I will wait, I will wait for you

So break my step

And relent

Well, you forgave and I won't forget

Know what we've seen

And him with less

Now in some way shake the excess

'Cause I will wait, I will wait for you

And I will wait, I will wait for you

And I will wait, I will wait for you

And I will wait, I will wait for you

Now I'll be bold

As well as strong

And use my head alongside my heart

So tame my flesh

And fix my eyes

A tethered mind freed from the lies

And I'll kneel down,

Wait for now

I'll kneel down,

Know my ground

Raise my hands

Paint my spirit gold

And bow my head

Keep my heart slow

'Cause I will wait, I will wait for you

And I will wait, I will wait for you

And I will wait, I will wait for you

And I will wait, I will wait for you

New Hope Women’s Shelter Solon Maine

New Hope Women’s Shelter Solon Maine

            On an earlier post, I shared about a men’s shelter that I had the opportunity to be part of building during a service venture with teens from a youth group where I am part of the volunteer staff.  Although I didn’t physically participate in this project, I have played a part in spreading the word of its existence and sharing the needs of the shelter community women.  Therefore, I wanted to make a blog about how marvelously the project came together and how beautiful this new facility is.  Teens I work with have been forever impacted by being given the opportunity to serve on this building project.

            The shelter opened its doors, providing shelter for homeless women and their children on January 28, 2010.  In the first 4 1/2 years of operations the shelter provided a place for over 400 women and children.  The shelter sets aside 4 days each week to help navigate the different goals women are working on, such as medical, social, education, and employment as well as housing.

The operational expenses of the shelter are provided by churches, businesses, and caring individuals

June 2011, the ground was broken for a new shelter facility.  Funds came from supporters from surrounding community members, churches, businesses and from philanthropic fundraisers.  Many businesses were very generous to the project and included large business like Plum Creek Foundation who made a donation for beds, as well as small business such as a group of hairstylists who did a fundraiser, donating the money raised to the shelter.  It was projected that it will cost $200,000 to build, give or take; probably a little more than that, strictly from donations.

Many hands came together and brought the project through from the beginning to the end.  People from other states came up on their vacations and did hands on work.  Teens and adults from my church spent time on the project.  Community members from the surrounding Solon area, known for their community spirit, rallied around the project and donated time, labor, and equipment.  It can house up to 40 women and has provided shelter to mothers and their children as well as women from ages 15 to 70.

Here are some pictures of the new shelter as well as links that were from the Shelter’s website of other Christian philanthropic enterprises from around the state who are providing needed services to their communities.

Groundbreaking

Walls!!Roofing

Siding

Flooring and Paint

Plum Creek Donates!Assembling beds

Reception

Hairstylists fundraiser

Lockers

Laundry

Kitchen!  WOW!

Bedrooms

 Community room

 More of community room

Links to other ministries:

​

Trinity Men's Shelter and Trinity Family Shelter located at a sister church in Skowhegan, Maine.

http://www.shelterbyjesus.org/

​​Franklin County Family Shelter located at Living Waters Church in Farmington, Maine.

http://lwagstrong.com/

The Mansion Ministry- A church specifically begun for formerly incarcerated people located near Bangor, Maine.

http://themansionministry.webs.com/

Shepherd's Godparent Home- A Christian home for pregnant women and their babies after birth.  Their is a transitional home also provided for up to an additional year called "Nikki's Hope"

http://www.godparenthome.org/

​​The King's Daughters Home- A Christian home that provides a safe living environment for single young women who are in college or working.

http://www.allsoulsbangor.com/kdh/index.htm

First Choice Pregnancy Center- Christian pregnancy resource center for expectant moms or dads.

http://firstchoicepregnancycenter.org/

Manna Ministries- This Bangor ministry provides shelter, counseling, a Christian recovery program, and a food pantry.

http://www.mannamaine.org/

Welcome to Housing- This Bangor ministry provides furniture and various household goods to anyone leaving a shelter and moving into their own home or apartment and also to families who have lost their homes to fire.

http://welcometohousing.com/

Hope Revived Ministries Hope Revived Ministries is teaching disadvantaged young women who they are in Christ. It is a healing ministry that is equipping these young women through Christ and allowing them to fulfill the purpose that God has for their lives. It will take in ladies to live in a 6 month program and will minister Biblical truths to those that have a low self esteem and other various issues. Some of these issues are self-harm, depression, eating disorders and other types of abuse.

http://www.deeperlifeassembly.org/ministries/hope_revived.html

Thoughts on readings from Beginner’s Guide to Community-Based Arts

Thoughts on readings from Beginner’s Guide to Community-Based Arts

Contact – Cultivate trust, mutual understanding and commitment as a foundation for your

creative partnership.

Research – Gather information about the people, places and issues you are working with.

Action – Produce a new work of art that benefits the community.

Feedback – Spark community reflection, dialogue and organizing to spread the impact of the

new work.     

Teaching – Pass on new community-building skills to others to sustain the impact.

            This text is rich with experience and insight on building relationships within communities and ideas on helping the community to bond and grow.  Being able to think outside the box and approach social issues within communities in ways that reaches the heart of the community and mobilizes them to come together for a particular purpose and agenda is not an easy task.  Reading about how different communities were impacted by utilizing art in an outside the box way to do so makes me excited to be part of this course. 

            As I read the other collaborative course blogs I am getting excited to see what comes of it all.  Because I live in a suburb area of Waterville, I am excited to see the architect students’ project in Waterville unfold for real.  I was unable to get to the first art student collaborative piece and am still a little uncertain as to how it will unfold.  I can see how our collaborative course projects are following the above outline from the book, more so at this point in the course that I could earlier. 

            Shared experience builds relationships.  It’s what we’ve told our youth in the groups where I am part of the volunteer staff.  Coming together to create something is an excellent way to build relationships.  I can see how the busy community members who participate in interviews can consider themselves as part of the project and therefore have a vested interest in the outcome.  I am excited to see the project come together.  Prayers for good weather for the out of doors piece!

            As a person who has been interested in homelessness in Maine, especially among our most vulnerable populations, developing ways to provide safe shelter for people as well as providing ways to help meet their other needs, I am very happy to be part of this course.  It is much more than I anticipated upon reading the course description when signing up.  I like things to HAPPEN, so this is probably the hard part for me.  I think that sometimes planning boards get all wrapped up in themselves and their governing power, so much so that they make moving forward hard when there are pressing needs, harder than it has to be.  I hope this is not the case and that there will be progress made soon.  The needs are there and are not declining.

Downstairs bedroom!!! Yay!!

Tiny Homes

Just like conventional homes, tiny home designs can be as simple and sparse or elaborate as one’s budget allows.  You can start out sparse and with foresight and planning, create a shell design that will allow for features to be added as your budget allows.  

Finding designs that allow a downstairs bedroom or sleeping space can be what makes or breaks one’s ability to adapt to a tiny home.  In the 70’s, my hippie cousin and her husband lived in a tiny cabin that had a bump-out for their bed.  It was sort of like a greenhouse window without the window and an opening a bit smaller than the mattress.  They had a light and some shelves in there.  It worked for them.

I had another hippie cousin couple that converted a school bus and had it parked in her in-laws rural driveway for a few years until they saved enough to get their own property.  This living arrangement was symbiotic as the couple utilized the family home kitchen and showering facilities and the couple helped the homeowner with whatever his needs were. 

Back to the downstairs bed designs versus loft sleeping designs.  I know from experiencing bunk sleeping at retreats, when camping and growing up that I did not enjoy the climb to your bed experience on a regular basis.  Now that I’m older, I would rather sleep on the floor than climb a ladder.  Drowsy nighttime trips to the bathroom would probably end badly, or at least, wake me up to such an extent that getting back to sleep would be a lengthy process.

I had a Chalet folding camper that I just loved that with a few more amenities, I felt I could live in it year round if I had to.  I fell in love with the high ceiling and bright open space of them and searched until I found a used one that I could afford.  I became an expert in backing the thing into driveways, by the way.  What I liked best about sleeping in it is that it felt so secure and the cabinet potty was right there.  No hike to the facilities in the night.  I added a video link so that you can see how easy they are to set up and how bright the inside is.  I want my next one to have the feature of a bed that lifts with storage underneath.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2MqU4q3fx4

Folding camper website à http://www.chaletrv.com/folding-trailers/xl-1930

Now, let’s get back to the tiny home research. As I did more online research, I focused in on finding out more about downstairs sleeping designs and was please to find some very cozy spaces.  I really liked the aesthetic appeal of the exterior of this one as well as the awesome interior design.  This type on home would lend itself well to a permanent tiny home community.  AND it’s so cute!  The materials the pictured home uses most certainly could be changed for more economical building materials.  It even has a washer dryer space!

http://www.fourlightshouses.com/collections/all-jay-shafers-house-plans/products/the-marie-colvin

Some of these designs have an upper sleeping area that I could be on board with.  Although they are pretty posh tiny homes, again the structural designs could be comprised of more economical materials and features.  The Murphy bed office is pretty cool, too.  I’m not sure if it would work for me in an ongoing basis, though.

http://humble-homes.com/tiny-house-plans/the-turtle-tiny-house/

“The Turtle House “First floor bedroom that can transform into a study with a Murphy bed.

Functional kitchen with a cook top, mid-size fridge & a counter top oven and additional sleeping space in the loft with an integrated ladder . At 230 square feet, the Turtle House is great for those that need a little more space. It contains a ground floor bedroom that doubles as an office.”

My favorite feature of this one is the drawer-type pull-out bed that is in the living room area.  Again, it has a downstairs bed, making it much more appealing to me.

http://humble-homes.com/tiny-house-plans/the-athru-tiny-house/

“The Athrú, our most flexible tiny house. The Athrú adjusts to suit your needs with it’s transformable living area and a large kitchen with a breakfast bar. The Athrú is one of the most versatile tiny houses on the market. By incorporating a multifunctional living space that can act as a bedroom or living room, we were able to create a very efficient home.

Transform the living space to a bedroom with a concealed pull-out bed

Large kitchen with a breakfast bar, and apartment-size appliances

Lofted ceiling & a sliding bathroom door that doubles as a closet”

This design appeals to me, although it does have a loft sleeping area.  It has actual stairs going to the loft that double as storage shelves.

http://humble-homes.com/tiny-house-plans/the-mcg-loft-v2-tiny-house/

      “The McG Loft V2 Tiny House - This tiny house is a 24 foot version of the McG Loft. The additional space allows for a more functional kitchen, and a larger bathroom, living area and loft. This home is designed for full-time living with its mid-size appliances.

Functional kitchen with mid-size appliances, including a washer/dryer

Large living room naturally lit and ventilated by 10 windows

Sleeping loft accessed by a staircase with plenty of storage spaces”

  

            This design has a double bed downstairs bedroom that incorporated storage as well.  It isn’t clear to me if there is any sort of build in storage area under the bed, but I can visualize something like I showed above in the camper design.  The camper design lift-up bed easily lifts and stays there until you push it back down.  I thought this feature was ingenious.  It allows one easy access to what is below without having to have the strength of Sampson to get to it or an extra arm to hold it up while you search for your stuff.

http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/blogs/tumbleweed/12844117-downstairs-sleeping-for-two-real-people

Minim House - I think this one is a great design and has lots of eco friendly features.  I really like all the windows incorporated into this design.  It has a roll out bed that can serve as seating if pulled out to the depth of a couch or bench seat.  The way the table utilizes marine fixtures so that it can easily be moved around for different purposes and heights was well thought out.  

(Minim House built with structurally insulated panels (SIPS)

The video below is an interior tour of the above home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLSxcLww2V4

             I think that unless you are providing housing for very agile healthy people, a downstairs sleeping space is what would work best in a tiny house design for a tiny house community.  The first exposure that I had to a working tiny house community for homeless individuals was when I happened onto a video of “Dignity Village” located in Portland Oregon.  I include two links, one from early on and one that more recently speaks to this self-governed “tiny house” community.

            I like that there are created spaced for gardens and communal enterprises that benefit those living there by supporting the costs of utilities and insurance.  My desire is to do more research and inquiry regarding this community because they have lasted for a number of years and I feel they have something to offer any project that may be in the planning stages.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8SusMPw3qs

            The tenants in this video clip go on record about how they feel about their place.  “Home” is frequently mentioned by numerous people.

http://www.tentcityurbanism.com/2014/08/dignity-village-thirteen-years-later.html

       This is a short video of a shelter made in part from political signs and other materials.  I love it!!  I think it really makes a statement artistically and politically.  If we were to use this idea somehow in our “art” piece, I feel that there should be no specific political bias.  Neither party has addressed the issues so far in a sustainable way as to make a positive impact, so we should not be into party bashing if we use the idea somehow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-aZaNoZCsg