Face
To Face Opens to Warm Reception
Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, (NEOCH) in
conjunction with Creative Impetus Gallery (CIG) and AT&T Wireless, presented
Face to Face: Portraits of Homeless People in Cleveland, an exhibition of
photographs by Cleveland-based photographer David Hagen.
Unlike many pictures of homeless people that capture the dark desolation
of their plight, Face to Face presents a collection of portraits of
homeless people taken in the warm light of the studio that features the full of
life and color of the models.
Hagen’s talent for engaging and getting to know each
subject before shooting exposes the real person under layers of protective
armor. Each deeply moving portrait
challenges our comfortable assumption that homeless people are somehow different
than “us” or that their homeless condition is due to their own shortcomings,
not a failure in the societal safety net. But
as you look into the eyes of the men, women and children in Hagen’s portraits,
you see the essence of each person. Hagen’s
work provides the viewer with a unique opportunity to truly see homelessness,
face to face.
“I wanted to photograph the homeless population in a
way that might make them look just like you, your father, mother, brother,
sister, friend or neighbor,” says Hagen.
“These are complex people in a challenging world, struggling to find
happiness.”
Hagen’s work is a new and significant voice in the
dialogue surrounding homelessness in Cleveland, that forces us to see that
homeless people are as diverse, interesting and beautiful as the rest of us.
The gallery exhibit opened with a reception on Friday,
June 27. CIG Gallery is located at
on Church Street near West 25th St. across the
street from the CMHA application’s office.
The people who are the subject of David Hagen’s portraits were present
to share their stories and their smiles.
The exhibit will travel around to the sanctuaries of
various religious organizations over the next year to educate the public about
homelessness. For a copy of the Face to Face booklet call or e-mail NEOCH at
216/432-0540 or neoch@neoch.org .
Copyright to the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless and the Homeless Grapevine Cleveland Ohio 2003.