Constellation by Brian Bixby and Sydney Cooper

For the past week we have worked with partner institutions in the Tenderloin collecting stories and insights into the residents lives. We have created a simple format using tracing paper and markers for participants to capture their personal biographies (portraits). The final installation is composed of these portraits. The lines and dots added to the windows are mapping the relationships and common themes between the diverse people we’ve met. We hope that this project will spark a continuing conversation amongst our partner organizations and the community at large about the power of art.

For the duration of Wonderland we have portrait drawing forms available at various locations throughout the neighborhood. Part of the process of creating the portraits will be to create local experts in facilitating these portraits, in this way the project will become the property of the community, a creation of the Tenderloin. The unfinished building we are occupying will be open to public for 2 days and then the space will be sealed for 90 days. Inside will be the remains of our activities which include duplicate tracings from the portraits made and the impressions of the foot traffic recorded in the dirt floors of the space we inhabited together. At night the room will be illuminated.

We believe that art is a positive stimulus for a community both economically, spiritually and mentally. After spending an entire week in the Tenderloin we have learned that many people here are hungry to be heard and seen rather than being stereotyped.

Special thanks to our partners who helped make this project possible: University of California – Hastings College of Law, Youth With A Mission, Vietmanese Youth Development Center, North of Market / Tenderloin, Community Benefit District, Road Dogz