When Ash Hart lived on Windsor’s streets, she picked up garbage and transformed it into works of art.
Now, the 39-year-old artist’s creations are on display in a Walkerville gallery alongside pieces by dozens of others who have experienced homelessness.
The Colours of Resilience Exhibition at Artspeak Gallery is the brainchild of Batool Yahya, a local artist who has worked with people experiencing homelessness for several years. Using a grant from the City of Windsor’s Arts Culture and Heritage Fund, Yahya rented the gallery space, gathered supplies, and held workshops to showcase some of the city’s talent.
The goal, Yahya said, is to show the artists that their creative endeavours are worth pursuing.
“If they had the same opportunities as I did as someone who isn’t actively experiencing homelessness, they would thrive,” she said.
In addition to experiencing homelessness, Cody Farrugia, 25, spent more than two years in a prison near Kingston after committing a string of robberies at Mac’s convenience stores. He wrote and illustrated a comic book about the incidents, as well as an album of music to go with it, under the name Robber Mac.
“I’ve changed my life around now. I’m not that person. Now I’m just writing about it and making music about it,” Farrugia said.
Farrugia said he isn’t using his art to brag about his past. He’s using it to tell his version of the story, which was covered by local media.
“I’m trying to make up for what I did. I don’t want to be one of those rappers out there bragging — I was a bad guy who’s trying to become a good guy.”
Rachel Edgerton, whose artist name is Ma’iingan, said seeing her art on display felt “new” to her.
“We need more things like this in Windsor because it gives an opportunity for people to see the people who need help, and not associate them with trends like substance abuse,” she said. “Instead, associate them with drawings and paintings. We’re all people, right?”
Edgerton, 26, was homeless for six years and now lives in an apartment. She’s been making art since she was a child as a way to escape reality, she said.
“You can’t put everybody under the same title and expect them to have the same problems. At the end of the day, we’re all different and we all go through things differently.
“I feel like, if people can create art like this, then they’re not all bad, right?”
Funds from the highest bidders on each piece will go directly to the artists. Any money collected for pieces with unknown or volunteer artists will go towards artist workshops.
The bidding response so far has been “insane,” Yahya said.
“You’re supporting actual legitimate artists. You’re not just supporting people because they’re experiencing homelessness. You’re giving artists a chance to make it.”
All of Hart’s art on display at the exhibition has sold.
“It’s wild. I want to continue — I don’t want it to be just for this. I want to show other people that they can rise above,” Hart said.
“I hope this would also give people awareness that we’re human. People are not out to be terrible.
The Colours of Resilience exhibition runs until Sunday. Bidding on art closes at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Artspeak Gallery will be open to showcase the exhibition’s final days on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
