17 October 2021
“Around Asbury St.”
Abstract
by Valentino Loyola
The microcosm more commonly referred to as the “unhoused” population of a city, is an important, critical factor worth exploring in order to understand how citizens, concerned persons, can affect change; contribute, service and relay the missive of people who are experiencing homelessness; to address civic discourse around the issue. “Around Asbury St.” is my personal initiative/approach to addressing the social issue of homelessness; specific to San Jose, CA- my hometown and more specifically- the area around Columbus Park in District 3, as a fellow citizen and as an artist.
The first phase of “Around Asbury St.” was to identify a location feasible to revisit, on a recurring basis, take notes, purvey photographic material for the body (the visual components) of this project; layout the images and curate those that could project a sense of community, as much as the dire circumstance that is more often the immediate association with unhoused encampments. Once the selections were finalized, then the artistry/creative hand was next in managing the photos in a way that elevated them from documentary shots, to visual iterations of “life, community and survival.” To achieve this, color grading was implemented in aiding the idea of the actual livelihood that resides under the surface of an abrasive condition.
The next phase entailed traversing the landscape of the unhoused community on foot, equipped with camera, notes of questions to ask anyone who would be willing to engage in a conversation about their current circumstances, thumbnails of the selected photographs printed on a 13”x19” sheet of paper to assist in describing the project better with no guarantees anyone would be willing to participate.
Shaun was sitting, fixed on a chair, tinkering with a small object, minding his own business and clearly had been located on Asbury Street for a substantial amount of time. After greeting Shaun, a natural course of discussion took place; I learned that he had been living there for a year, approximately, has an MFA from San Jose State University and had been creating “installment” works right there as a coping mechanism for managing his time and focus on something positive.
More information regarding the unhoused population in San Jose, CA can be found here:
City of San Jose Homeless Census and Survey Comprehensive Report, 2019