Art exhibit showcasing homeless experience

Tippecanoe arts federation is hosting an art gallery called voices of homelessness.

Lafayette transitional housing center clients are the face of the project.

News 18's micah upshaw tells us how it's working to break stigmas and bring new perspectives.

John m: when you understand where a person has been and you're in that same space with them, i think i would like for them to take away just that i understand.

Micah: that feeling of being heard and unomething we want and need as humans.

It's also something that feels hard to achieve when your dealing with homelessness.

John m: when we're on the bus and you're looking at my situation, it may look different from the outside but we're still the same individuals on the inside.

Micah: john mcdaniels recently fell into homelessness.

He's spent the last few weeks working toward permanent housing through the lafayette transitional housing center.

While there, he came across a flier seeking people to share their journey to finding housing.

John m: the struggle has a voice, it also has an art form.

I just wanted to share something that reflected the homeless experience so i went in the direction of poetry.

Micah: poetry, drawing and photography are just some of the ways these artists are sharing their experience.

John z: i gave lthc photos covering a wide gamut of range.

Housing and homelessness has been something that's been a part of my life for the last four years.

Micah: john zimmerman has always loved photography and using it to tell a story.

John z: the first thing i did was take a photo of the, i think the house where i was at because having a home when you're homeless is, it's the first big modifier of a change in improvement in your life.

After that was, i believe i took a photo of the refrigerator that had food, obviously, i mean, i guess i was just thinking about i had the four fundamental things you know food, clothing, water and shelter.

Micah: this art exhibit is designed to give people a chance to get a new perspective of the homeless experience.

But the artists are also leaving with a lesson.

John z: life can take away from you your career, your life, your family, your parents in my case but it can't take away from your creativity and when you're surviving on the streets, it can be one thing in my tool box that i can hold onto that allows me to keep on going.

Micah: in lafayette, micah upshaw news 18.

This gallery is open to the public during regular tippecanoe art federation hours monday through friday.

This friday, is the artists' reception where multiple artists will be there to discuss their work.

It'll be held from six to eight p-m.

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