ART WALK UKIAH
We Are You: Voices of the Unhoused
Friday, May 2, 2025 from 5 – 7 PM
The Ukiah Branch Library invites the community to join us for Art Walk Ukiah on Friday, May 2 from 5 to 7 p.m. The library will feature a group art exhibition by the Building Bridges Homeless Resource Center. This art show is designed to give an expressive voice to the unhoused in Ukiah.
Unhoused people are perhaps the most marginalized population in most communities. Studies by UCSF have found that 78-82% of unhoused people have deep roots in their current area. Many are working people or students who live out of their cars or “couch surf.” An increasing percentage of the unhoused population are seniors. The staggering reality is that we are all potentially one job loss, weather event, or major medical bill away from losing our home. This exhibition highlights this shared vulnerability and aims to break down the barriers of stigma and outsider status because truly, We Are You.
Local artists Janet Rosen, Laura Fogg, Betty Lacy, and Melissa Eleftherion Carr have led workshops with clients and residents of Building Bridges since July 2024, along with the support and vision of the Building Bridges staff. The exhibition utilizes a range of mediums – including painting, mixed media, fiber, textile, and poetry – to allow the workshop participants to express their visions, personal stories, and humanity. The finished art pieces will be curated and installed in public venues throughout Ukiah. We invite you to take part in this important community event.
The Branch will host live piano music by Deanne California. Guests can enjoy an all-ages collage crafting program and a book sale by the Ukiah Valley Friends of the Library as they browse the Art Walk. This exhibition is free to the public, open to all ages, and is sponsored by the generous support of the Ukiah Valley Friends of the Library and Mendocino County Library.
For more information, please visit www.mendolibrary.org or contact the Ukiah Branch at 707- 463-4490.
