Humble Beauty: Skid Row Artists

After reading about homeless artists in the Los Angeles Times, filmmakers Letitia Schwartz and Judith Vogelsang decided to bring their stories to life. Over the course of four years, the pair visited two outlets—the Artist's Workshop and the Lamp Art Project. Both are located in L.A.'s Skid Row, which Vogelsang, who narrates in a stiff but serviceable style, describes as the “homeless capital of America,” with more than 100,000 men, women, and children occupying the area. At the Artist's Workshop, the participants have a dedicated space to paint, draw, and assemble collages; Jaime Green, for instance, creates multimedia pieces out of nail polish and wallpaper, while ex-con Manuel “OG Man” Compito and former bus driver Barbara Aduwa paint portraits and street scenes. Darlene Altemeier Dobbs says that the Lamp Art Project, which concentrates on those with a history of mental illness, gives her “a sense of belonging.” The directors of the Artist's Workshop and the Lamp Art Project, Lillian Abel Calamari and Rory White, respectively, also paint and exhibit their own art. Says Lillian, “There are two kinds of people in the world: there are the creators and the destroyers. I think the creator is the best thing to be.” During filming, several artists participate in a group show (some sell their works), while one ends up teaching local children about art, and another wins a scholarship to study at U.C. Berkeley (although his citizenship status puts a hitch in that plan). Together, the stories reveal talent in unlikely places and demonstrate the compelling desire to create—regardless of circumstances. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)