Anawim House, at the corner of North Park and Vancouver Street, is a house that would look at home in any suburb.
Residents and staff have been working on an art project throughout the summer, and I dropped in to talk to the arts co-ordinator, Nerissa Evans, about it. I really didn鈥檛 know what I would find.
Anawim is a Hebrew word, variously translated as 鈥渢he blessed poor people,鈥� or 鈥渢he deserving poor.鈥� The house has seven residents, each with their own room. In return for the room, they work on upkeep and programs for about 30 people who make themselves at home there every day. When I arrived, food was being prepared, while drop-ins passed the time at picnic tables in the garden.
Anawim is a sober facility, and it seemed a bit like summer camp. A large chalkboard listed the week鈥檚 activities: field trip, nurse visit, art group. A staff member took me on a tour of the laundry in the basement, next to the clothing 鈥渟tore.鈥� Showers are a major attraction at Anawim, and clean towels and soap were laid out in plastic totes. The staff includes two social workers and about 50 volunteers.
A standalone organization, in operation since 1991, Anawim receives no government funding, but relies on some support from the Victoria Foundation and individual contributions from 鈥渁 core group of churchgoers,鈥� communications manager Innes Purdue told me. While operating by basic Christian values, its services are open to all.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about community,鈥� he said, 鈥渁bout coming together and working to change. It鈥檚 a home.鈥�
Anawim鈥檚 summer art project, in its own way, is about fundraising.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not keen on spending tons on advertising,鈥� Purdue smiled. He depends on social media, and a few low-key events whose goal is to invite interested people to Anawim, so they can see what it鈥檚 like, 鈥渁nd just let it work.鈥� The art show, now in its second year, provides a simple entr茅e.
This year, it began with a donation of the wooden panels to paint on and some paint, provided by Saint Andrews Secondary School. In June, art classes from grades 10 to 12 came to Anawim to sit down with residents and drop-ins, and together they sketched 鈥渋deas of inspiration, light and hope.鈥� These drawings were transferred to the panels, and as the summer went along the panels were put out in the community for anyone to add colour and light.
They were first set up at the Moss Street Paint-In, in front of Fairfield United Church, where Anawim partnered with Our Place. They were taken to the Pride Parade, where a table with acrylic paint and glitter invited anyone to add to the already colourful panels. Recently, they were taken to a HarbourCats game at Royal Athletic Park, just across the street from Anawim.
Volunteers helped the public overcome the usual anxieties about painting.
鈥淚鈥檓 no good. I鈥檓 no artist,鈥� people said again and again, but there is something liberating in the nature of these collaborative panels 鈥� 鈥渋t鈥檚 not all my work, so it doesn鈥檛 have to be perfect鈥� 鈥� which helps to break the ice. And, once they had begun, people couldn鈥檛 seem to stop.
Of course, art is like that. At Anawim, every Friday is painting day. In a big, bright, airy room, with tables and art supplies in abundance, inspiration is in the air. Homeless and unhappy people drop into their creative zone.
The activity is therapeutic, and the results can be helpful in reconstructing a damaged identity. It鈥檚 a nice change for the working poor or unemployed, whose free time is often spent working to access benefits.
Of course, the 35 panels looked like a bit of a free-for-all up to this point, but in the Anawim studio they are getting some finishing touches. They鈥檒l go on display with an opening party at the Hudson Market, 1701 Douglas St., Aug. 31 from 7:30 p.m. The Hudson has been enthusiastic about hanging the art, and all panels will be available for sale through silent auction.
Naturally, these paintings are not about polish and resolution. They are bursting with energy and teeming with symbols. All embody the theme of inspiration, light and hope.
鈥淓veryone who I have spoken to seems to have a different favourite picture,鈥� Purdue reflected. That鈥檚 democracy in action. Of course, art is more than what is offered for sale in galleries.
Over the years I have visited art programs at the Garth Homer Centre, the Pandora Arts Collective, the Mustard Seed, at Aberdeen and听Mount Saint Mary hospitals. While these are not formally 鈥渁rt therapy鈥� programs, there is no doubt that the painting is therapeutic 鈥� something to focus on, to create and be proud of. It helps foster a sense of belonging.
There are a few places in town where the homeless can get meals, but to get the feeling that you belong to a community, that you can help yourself and are not just being handed things, is Anawim鈥檚 goal. That creates a sense of dignity and empowerment.
鈥淪elf-worth is really the whole thing,鈥� Purdue said. 鈥淗elp with your identity is more valuable than a week鈥檚 worth of free meals.鈥�
If the art show increases the number of people who have heard of Anawim, 鈥渢hen we鈥檒l leave the rest up to them,鈥� Purdue told me. 鈥淎nawim鈥檚 not a household name 鈥� not yet.鈥�
听
Anawim Companion Society, 973听Caledonia St., 250-382-0283.
