The Power of Art

Last year, Housing Matters had the unique opportunity of bringing an Artist in Residence onto our team to explore how art can drive social change. Through grants from the Central Coast Creative Corps and the California Arts Council, we collaborated with acclaimed local artist Abi Mustapha. Local videographer Michael Daniel documented the process. 

In April, the Housing Matters Community Engagement team partnered with Abi Mustapha to put on “Look Me In the Eyes,” a curated pop-up art exhibition at the Museum of Art and History featuring a collaboration between people with lived experience of homelessness and local artists. The goal of the event was to invite the community-at-large to actively participate and look our unhoused neighbors in the eyes and by doing so, encourage a reflection on our shared humanity. 

Each local artist utilized their respective skills and mediums to depict powerful portraits of local community members whose lives were shaped by the experience of housing insecurity and homelessness. 

The exhibition challenged preconceived notions of what it means to be homeless, and who experiences homelessness, successfully breaking down the barriers that create a sense of division between those who are stably housed and those who are not. We recognize that these barriers often stem from stereotypes, fear, and fundamentally: a lack of personal and human connection to someone who has experienced homelessness. 

The exhibition provided a shared space for meaningful interactions between housed individuals and those with lived experience of homelessness to build understanding and reduce stigma. “Look Me in the Eyes” uplifted the personal narratives of our unhoused neighbors and highlighted their remarkable resilience. 

Through artistic exploration, Abi Mustapha and the Housing Matters team uplifted the message that housing IS a human right. Michael Daniel documented the process in “The Power of Art.” Having an artist and community organizer on staff for this year was transformative for our organization. We experienced how art as a medium can change the conversation around homelessness.

Thank you to the Central Coast Creative Corps, the California Arts Council, the Arts Council of Santa Cruz County, Abi Mustapha, Michael Daniel, Abram Katz, and the Housing Matters Speakers Bureau members.