Expressions Gallery

(mural)

A couple of weeks ago my friend, John Klaiber, and I went to Berkeley, CA for a little gallery visit. First we went to Berkeley Art Center and although it was closed, we were able to explore the nature area that it was located in. We came across this mural under a bridge and I certainly felt as though it was blog worthy.  

 (the side of Expressions Gallery)

(me-Heather Schlesinger)

(John Klaiber)

We ended up at an impressive gallery called Expressions Gallery. The work exhibited was commenting on homelessness. They displayed art work that was created by the homeless as well as art created by local professionals that are passionate about the issues that the homeless community faces.

One of the installations was a meal for the homeless.  Displayed was a menu for their options and a meal of glass, sand, dirt, gravel, rocks, and soap.  Represented here is a very clear message saying that options are limited for the homeless and society is ok with it.

(Doug Minkler, All of Us or None, poster)

  

Doug Minkler's, All of Us or None, caught my attention as well.  This piece is an awareness billboard, a wake up call for society, letting us know that we should not be leaving anyone behind and that we are all equal.  

(Carol Denney, You Lose Board Game, card board and mixed media)

Carol Denny created a piece called You Lose Board Game.  This is a different version of monopoly to say the least.  The boxes that you could land on represent a daily issue in the life of someone who lives in poverty or on the streets.  I appreciated her bringing this awareness to these issues in a conceptual way.  She uses a board game to share her message as a gateway into the middle class, as monopoly is a common, suburban game.  

(Carol Denney, Toilet Memorial, mixed media assemblage)

Another piece by Denney is an installation of a toilet chained up representing the denial of bathroom access to the homeless.  I have been in a business myself getting food when a homeless man walked in to use the bathroom.  He barely took two steps in the building before the owner yelled at him "NO" and pointed at the door.  I was taken back because I had never seen or experienced anything like this.  This is a HUGE problem for the homeless community.  Then the rest of us complain if we smell pee walking around in cities or if we find human poop down by the Sacramento or American Rivers.  This is why!    

Doug Minkler and Carol Denney's works are political while representing facts and addressing these social issues connected with homelessness.  This gallery was a great find, the people that worked there were very friendly and informative, and the art was fantastic.  I recommend this gallery the next time your in Berkeley, CA.