Last Updated on January 25, 2024, 10:16 PM | Published: January 25, 2024
OKLAHOMA CITY — The striking, colorful, and widely diverse artworks lining the east wall of The Plaza’s DNA Galleries right now all feel easily at home among the space’s vibrant contemporary art and homemade jewelry and crafts, but they all have something unexpected in common.
They were all created by Oklahoma City artists currently or formerly experiencing homelessness.
Devised and organized by OKC’s Homeless Alliance, the Fresh stART art show – as well as the twice-weekly studio art program hosted at the Alliance’s day shelter – is now in its 10th year of helping to bolster the creative spirit and heartening confidence of the city’s homeless residents.
This year’s showcase at DNA opened on January 11th and runs until Sunday, February 4th.
“It helps people develop valuable coping skills with which to handle difficult situations,” Homeless Alliance executive director Dan Straughan said of the program and art show in a press statement. “And when an artist sells something that they created, it really helps build their confidence knowing that someone else values their work.”
‘Enriching Experiences’
From the beginning, the Fresh stART program has been about more than just simple artistic recreation.
With a full selection of community-donated supplies and materials, and a host of volunteer art leaders, the twice-a-week opportunity for unbridled expression and imagination was designed to show that the Homeless Alliance is about more than just providing the bare essentials.
“The day shelter is our front door to services,” said Homeless Alliance Communication Director Taylor Self. “But it’s not all just about having people come in to get a meal. It’s about providing enriching experiences and treating people with dignity and respect.”
Part of that mission is creating the kind of encouraging environment where guests can explore any medium or material that strikes their fancy and sparks their imagination.
“It’s a really kind of protected space,” Self said. “Fresh stART actually isn’t featured on our volunteer hub because it’s not something just anyone can come in and volunteer to do. We have very specific people that come run it because we want it to be a really supportive environment.”
Gallery Gratitude
That conscious push for an always supportive environment even extends to the venue for the year’s only off-site Fresh stART show: DNA Galleries in The Plaza.
“This is the only one that happens outside of the Homeless Alliance,” Self said, explaining that there are three annual shows for Fresh stART artists, with the shows in June and October hosted at the Homeless Alliance’s day shelter and headquarters at 1724 NW 4th St.
“DNA always allows us to do this,” she said. “It’s just so cool because it gives them a chance to show their art to the public in an actual gallery. So the support of The Plaza, and of DNA in particular, is really special for our artists. That opportunity to show that their ideas matter and that people really care is just so important.”
Inspiration and Expression
The artworks themselves are as vivid, varied, and expressive as anything you’ll see in any other museum or gallery across the city.
These pieces aren’t the simplistic, paint-by-numbers results of some entry-level art class. They’re genuine, emotive works by true artists that deserve to be seen in a progressive, exciting gallery space like DNA.
There’s the wildly textured, lush work of Fresh stART veteran Willis and the combined talents of program newcomers Melvin and Alicia, who each explore figures and animals in their own singular-yet-complementary ways.
There’s the handmade jewelry pieces of Robin, the intricate pencil work of Kayla, and the idyllic, blue beaches and shores of Mary.
Standing out stylistically in the show is a selection of evocative photographs from artist Peter, each showcasing both the grand scale and intimacy of city architecture.
“Peter is one of our first photographers,” said Self. “He does all of the photography and editing all on his phone, and actually one of our other artists here, Kayla, pointed to a couple of these photographs and said ‘when I was experiencing homelessness, I slept in both of those places.'”
‘Paint Over It’
One subtle and important element of the Fresh stART program and art shows is the encouragement to try something unexpected and new and to embrace inspiration however it may strike.
One of the program’s most frequently showcased artists, painter Phillip, discovered a deep love and affinity for art entirely by chance while experiencing homelessness.
“I started around 2016 when I just found some paint and brushes in the trash and I kept it,” he said. “That’s how I started.”
Since discovering the Fresh stART program and developing his skills and style at the Homeless Alliance, Phillip has become one of their most successful and consistent artists, selling all of his displayed works in both of his first two shows.
“I paint because it’s a way to make things beautiful,” Phillip said in his artist statement that accompanies his works at DNA Galleries. “There is so much ugliness in the world and sometimes you can just paint over it and make something good. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done. It gives me a high. I hope to one day be able to do it all the time.”
The Fresh stART art show runs at DNA Galleries in The Plaza through Sunday, February 4th.
In addition to selling the displayed artworks, with sales going directly to the artists themselves, DNA is also collecting donations of art supplies and materials on behalf of the Homeless Alliance for the duration of the run.
For more information, visit homelessalliance.org and dnagalleries.com.
Brett Fieldcamp has been covering arts, entertainment, news, housing, and culture in Oklahoma for nearly 15 years, writing for several local and state publications. He’s also a musician and songwriter and holds a certification as Specialist of Spirits from The Society of Wine Educators.
