They live surrounded by poverty, a new art exhibit helps them find beauty in their SF neighborhood
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- When Ivy Jeanne walks along 6th Street in San Francisco, she does not see the poverty on the stretch between Market and Howard streets. She sees the beauty in the little things.
"You see these Greek columns, what were these like in the forties?" she asks a group of photographers who follow her on a tour of the area.
Ivy Jeanne works with Vanguard Lab, one of several groups that use art to help people overcome addictions and other harmful behaviors.
Together with 6M Community Arts, they're working with residents to create an art exhibit on 6th Street's evolution.
"So we have people who come in here and enjoy a break from their noise and problems that they might experience outside the doors. So, it's really a sanctuary space that's open to anybody without questioning," said Kerim Harmanci, general manager of 6M Community Arts.
The center is located at 6th and Mission Street, an oasis from the turmoil outside.
"We just want people to feel like they can come in and catch their breath; that is harm reduction. When you can catch your breath and just organize your thoughts and figure out what it is that you need to do, and then when we're calm, we can perhaps make better decisions," said Amanda Kanter, a ceramics artist who leads workshops at 6M.
Their most recent endeavor is working with residents to create a 3D model of 6th Street using archival photos of the area.
Tina Tutt is helping out. She is recreating the facade of Hospitality House, a community group that provides services for Tenderloin and Mid-Market residents.
She credited the organization with helping her after a rough move from Detroit.
Going to 6M brightens her day.
"I come here because I like the energy. I'm a creator and that means a lot to me because I'm able to make a difference in my community," said Tutt.
6-M is funded by Tenants and Owners Development Corporation (TODCO), a nonprofit that runs eight affordable housing buildings in the South of Market area.
"We believe affordable housing is much more than just here's a unit for you to live in. It's a holistic approach to the individual living within that unit, which is why we try to invest back in different programs such as the community arts program or resident services programs," said Andres Mendez, TODCO's media manager.
TODCO also runs a program called 6th on 7th Gallery, which runs photography workshops and lends residents cameras so they can capture their surroundings.
"People don't think of homeless and photography in the same sentence," said S. Renee Jones, the gallery's artistic director.
Jones credits the program with changing her life. She was homeless and struggling with a cervical spinal cord injury when she saw a sign for free photography classes and decided to take part.
"It really allowed me to have a purpose to continue working, helping myself with my next issue, being able to get up and get out and have something to do," said Jones.
The gallery regularly displays photographs from residents and local artists.
"One of my members has this series called Word on the Street and it's all of the things people write on the street because it tends to tell the story of someone's life at that moment," explained Jones.
Photographs on display show a child chasing pigeons, two women sitting in a lowrider car and a circular ceiling lamp.
What you won't find are photos of people on the street struggling with addiction or homelessness.
Jones teaches her students to treat people in crisis with respect. She takes them on field trips to parks, cemeteries, thrift stores and other urban settings.
"We're looking at things that tell the story without sort of sensationalizing.
"I think it is surprising for people to see such grandeur that's coming out of what would be a very bedraggled neighborhood that's often seen in the media as sort of despair, sort of hopeless," said Harmanci.
6M Community Arts opens its exhibit looking at the past and present of 6th Street on June 20th.
