What’s Home? Creative Listening Across Differences is designed to create an open-minded atmosphere of cooperation between those of us without homes and those of us who have reliable housing, so that we can address our mutual needs for well being, dignity, and safety.
What’s home to you?
What’s your story of home?
What do you wish for yourself and all people?
Artists explore these questions with a housed and unhoused person as they collaborate and create new music, visual and performing art. The resulting documentaries show how art can brings us together to address our housing crisis.
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Don’t Give Up On Me Now
Alwa Gordon meets with unhoused musician Sonny Lopez and with housed Santa Cruz Chief Of Police Bernie Escalante. He’s surprised to find so much commonality.
Alwa Gordon grew up in Santa Cruz and was unhoused for portions of his childhood. He has had to move more than a dozen times. Police Chief Bernie Escalante grew up in Santa Cruz and rents his home. Musician Sonny Lopez grew up in Gilroy and moved to Santa Cruz fifteen years ago. He has been unhoused for six years.
Alwa is joined by singer Alexandra the Author and they perform the new song for Sonny and Bernie, "Don't Give Up On Me Now." The conversation that unfolds is intimate and a bit surprising.
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Heart In The Middle: How Art Transforms Pain
Artists Josefina Rocha and Carmen Leon converse and make art with unhoused participants Liz and Luna. Watch what happens when Liz and Luna see the new paintings by Josefina and Carmen that are reflections of each of their lives.
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You And I Are A Work Of Art
Artist Amy Allen walks across the street from her place of work to converse with unhoused participant Thomas who is busking with his dog Oswald. Thomas’s struggles and his desire to help others are equally profound. Next Amy meets with housed participant Beth. Beth too has struggled and gets through it by helping others. In this emotional portrait, the three gather and hold pain and possibility through the power of art making.
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Ben Dorfan Project: In the Silence
Musician Ben Dorfan meets with Hydie and her 15 year old son Isaac. Both have been unhoused and have strong creative practices. Hydie makes visual art and poetry. Isaac plays the saxophone. Housed participant Lydia is a violinist, a former paramedic and a mom of teenagers. Ben is struck by the profound interruptions in life and uses Hydie’s poem, “In the Silence” as a starting off point for his new composition by the same name. You can listen to it here.
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Michael Gabriel Project
Artist and musician Micheal Gabriel gets to know Tyle who identifies more as an animal than a person. Tyler chooses to be unhoused out of his care for our planet. In the winter life is harder for Tyler as he works two jobs and sometimes when he takes shelter from the rain in an urban spot, he is moved along by cops.. Bob is a retired lawyer who has a dedicated art making practice. Watch what happens as Bob challenges Tyler to have a ‘bette’ life and Michael sees the dignity in those of us who are unhoused.
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Edward Weingold: A Crack in the Earth
There was a huge encampment for the unhoused at the Benchlands at San Lorenzo Park in Santa Cruz. This is where octogenarian playwright Edward Weingold facilitated a conversation with unhoused playwright, Sunshine who is in her early 40s and housed participant Mikaila who is in her early twenties. Sunshine empathizes with Mikaila’s struggles to care for her mom and pay rent.
The resulting play , “A Crack in the Earth” stems from this interaction, the colorful encampment and the city.politics that affect those who live outside.
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Angela Gleason Project
ArAngela Gleason
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Joy Schendledecker Project
Artist, Community Organizer Joy Schendledecker with participants Fred and Greg
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Linda Cover Project
Multimedia Artist, Photographer, Linda working with participants Robin and Nancy
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Saki Cynthia Project
Dancers Saki and Cynthia Strauss work with participants Grim, Michelle, Niall, and Patrick
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Micheal Levy
Artist Micheal in conversation with participants
