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Sudbury photo exhibit focuses on life of homeless and near-homeless

A new art exhibit in Sudbury, Ont., is profiling the difficult living conditions of homeless or near-homeless people in the Northeast — with photographs taken by the people who live it every day.

Exhibit will 'enable people to see through the eyes of those who took the photographs'

CBC News ·
Marley, 31, lost his place to sleep in this fire. "My room was right there. Well I’m not sure where the fire started, like when that explosion happened. I was pretty shaken up, man, cause I left 25 minutes before the explosion happened. I was just freaking out when they told me what happened. I was in shock. Was I supposed to die in that fire?" (Marley/Poverty, Homelessness and Migration)

A new art exhibit in Sudbury, Ont., is profiling the difficult living conditions of homeless or near-homeless people in the northeast — with photographs taken by the people who live it every day.

Participants were given a camera and asked to take pictures of where they were currently living.

Carol Kauppi, director of Laurentian University's Centre for Research in Social Justice and Policy, hopes the exhibit at Gallery 6500 will show how substandard housing affects a person's mental health. 

Kurt, 56, says panhandling is a job. "I’m sure [this man] will suffer because of the cold. [Yet] a lot of people don’t talk to people on the street ... talk to them, look them in the eye. Think of them as human beings." (Kurt/Poverty, Homelessness and Migration)

"Many people, especially people in the mainstream, don't really understand what circumstances of living in extreme poverty or homelessness are all about," said Kauppi, who has been studying homelessness in the northeast since 2000. "This exhibit will enable people to see through the eyes of those who took the photographs."

The photographers are homeless or near-homeless people in Sudbury, Cochrane, Fort Albany First Nation and Constance Lake First Nation.

Kurt, 56, says this shelter is under a porch. "It’s just, maybe three feet high and five feet wide. It’s so small you have to crawl in there. It’s better than sleeping outside. Also, it’s hidden so the landlord doesn’t know people are there." (Kurt/Poverty, Homelessness and Migration)

The exhibit, which is being staged by the Poverty, Homelessness and Migration project at Laurentian, runs until July 11.

The opening reception will be held Sunday at 2 p.m.

Zion, 26, calls this a hobo shack. "When I first hitchhiked to Sudbury, this is where I went. I keep it up, in case, so I’ll have a place for back-up. This place is nice, it’s tranquil. When you are on the streets, having a place like that is really good for you. I guess, for your mind, your mental health because you have a place to collect yourself. It’s the wilderness, you know, it’s safe." (Zion/Poverty, Homelessness and Migration)
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