Homelessness: It Could Be You

Homelessness: It Could Be You

 
The Leonardo’s latest original exhibit, “No Fixed Address” aims to give community members who have no fixed address the chance to introduce themselves. Developed in collaboration with Utah’s leading community service organizations, this photography and multi-media exhibition was created to inspire understanding, compassion and dialogue, supply information on a complex issue and catalyze action.

Utah’s population hit 2,901,000 in 2014; 13,621 of these individuals are without a fixed address. This means that 1 in every 213 people is homeless. Utah is succeeding in its plan to end chronic homelessness, and the exhibition aims to look at what the visitor can do to help.

Chief marketing officer for the Leonardo Erica Callahan said: “The issue is about all the misunderstandings about homelessness and the complexities of the issue. The archetypes of homelessness are the people we turn away from, they could have been substance abusers, they could have been mentally ill, they’re people we avoid contact with because of our own discomfort.

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“The people you are seeing [depicted in photographs] are people who lived on the streets when the photos were taken, many were in the state of Utah, others were in other parts of the U.S.

“Lynn Blodgett, the photographer, met these people, got to know them, shot them one-on-one against a white canvas so their humanity shows through above anything else and that’s what started the exhibit, became the foundation with the intention of, who really are these people, can we get to know them. And it’s really an exhibit that was designed to make you think, inspire you to ask questions, inspire a conversation, inspire compassion ultimately.”

Alexandra Hesse, executive director of The Leonardo, said: “‘No Fixed Address’ sheds light on the myths and realities of homelessness and invites the public to appreciate the individual humanity of the individuals and families who live on the streets or in shelters. It asks us to take a fresh look at one another and to help build a more compassionate community.”

She continued, “Homelessness is an issue that affects nearly every city, but the fact that we live in a place where our community non-profits collaborate so successfully to achieve the highest outcomes, at a lower cost, and with more citizens receiving the intended benefits is a story that can best be shared here.”

In addition to the exhibition, The Leonardo will host a thematic series of live public programs and movie screenings throughout the six-month run.

Located in the heart of Salt Lake City, The Leonardo is Utah’s center for exploration. Here visitors of all ages can exercise their curiosity, their creativity and experience one-of-a-kind, interactive exhibits and an ongoing calendar of public programs, workshops and classes. Tickets to “No Fixed Address” are $7 to $9 and include general admission to The Leonardo. They are available on the door at 209 E. 500 South, online at theleonardo.org or by phone at 801.531.9800. The exhibition runs through May 2015.