Art exhibit explores essence of ‘home’

Local artist Jessy Hanson is putting together a pop up art exhibition titled, “The Home We Carry: A Visual Anthology of the Unhoused.” The show is designed to spark a conversation about the nuanced definition of home and the circumstances that can find someone without this most basic necessity. Desiring to bridge the gap between the comfortable and the uncomfortable, Hanson has designed the elements of the show to cause the viewer to pause and think about the individuals and their stories — this could easily be your brother, your friend, your mother, Hanson says. Anyone could succumb to a slip of circumstance and find themselves unhoused.

Hanson spent the summer interviewing members of the local homeless population, engaging in dialogue revolving around what “home” means to them and what (if anything) they choose to carry with them. During these interviews, and believing that hands and feet can reveal an intimate glimpse into the life behind them, Hanson collected reference photos of hands and/or feet of each subject. She is using the photos to create two pieces of art per story, one drawn on cardboard to represent the temporary, embodying the substrate that the unhoused themselves use to communicate. The other will be painted on wood and hang beside the drawn cardboard pieces along with each story collected.

The final component of the show will involve a group of dancers interacting with the cardboard elements in lyrical movements, which will be filmed and included in a final video by the artist to be donated to the local homeless shelters she has partnered with.

The show will be open and available to view by appointment Oct. 1 to Oct. 27, with a special closing reception on Oct. 28 from 6 to 9 p.m. The closing reception will include a dance piece performance, artist talk and light refreshments.

To book an appointment, visit arrowleafcreative.com.

A portion of all proceeds from art sales will be donated to Samaritan House, Flathead Warming Center and Sparrows Nest of Northwest Montana.

The project is funded by the Montana Arts Council.