Six new art installations going up in the Midtown area are part of the HueMan: Shelter project to challenge misconceptions about people who are unhoused.
HOUSTON — Some artists are on a mission to help change the perception of people experiencing homelessness in the Houston area.
“Try and talk about hope, try and talk about humanity,” artist Sherman Finch said.
Teams of unhoused Houstonians are helping paint six art installations in the Midtown area.
It’s part of the HueMan: Shelter project to educate, empower and employ the underrepresented community.
Finch spent months listening to a group of unhoused individuals as they shared their stories. Then they all worked together to paint pillars at the I-45 underpass at Milam and Pierce streets.
“Their personal stories are literally right on these pillars,” Finch told KHOU 11. “This is a makeup of literally 12 different stories, and each pillar builds off of the other pillar, and it almost starts as a narrative.”
The project is funded with a $1 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge.
The Midtown murals also include a colorful creation near Spur 527and Alabama, three METRO bus shelters and Career and Recovery Resources.
“I’ve never seen such community, such close-knit bonds between people until working on this project,” artist Chris Rocha said.
The homeless men and women who helped paint the murals got paid.
“It’s not just about moving people off the street, but trying to really think of better ways to give people opportunities,” Cynthia Alvarado with the Midtown Management District said.
She said the goal is to open the door to future job opportunities.
“To learn job skills in ways that can get them re-entered into society,” she said.
All six installations should be completed by next month.
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