Art show provides supportive space and all proceeds to artists experiencing homelessness

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Inspired by Art From The Streets in Austin, Texas, the Fresh stART program in Oklahoma City has worked for more than a decade to help create safe and creative environments for people experiencing homelessness.

A Homeless Alliance program, participants can take part in open studio art classes at 1724 NW 4th St., and then in an annual art show, which provides a venue for the artists to share and sell their works.

Chief communications officer for The Homeless Alliance Taylor Self said art can be a transformative medium and is impactful for people who may be at risk or in survival mode.

More: Photos: The Homeless Alliance’s Fresh stART program’s 2023 art show

Carla Templeton buys art for Kathrine Mehl on Friday during an art show at Homeless Alliance Resource Campus in Oklahoma City.

‘It’s a beautiful place to be’

Creating art also provides the label of artist, said Homeless Alliance Volunteer Specialist Zaneen Fletcher-Hall, allowing people to take that and express another facet of their identity.

Artist Philip Lee Harkness said he picked up a brush one day from a dumpster and began to paint. He said he’s been coming to Fresh stART classes since they began. He paints landscapes that depict light, clouds and water in a manner reminiscent of Bob Ross, who hosted television series “The Joy of Painting” until 1994.

“It’s a beautiful place to be, my little world, you know?” Harkness said about his landscape paintings.

Like many artists, he said he paints for the love of the craft.

“I just love to do it,” he said. “There is so much ugliness in the world, and sometimes you can just paint over it and make something good.”

Art is sold on Friday during a art show at Homeless Alliance Resource Campus in Oklahoma City.

Fresh stART also works with DNA Galleries in the Plaza to showcase and sell art there to a wider audience. And mediums are not limited to paintings, some artists at the show created jewelry and photography.

Self said the Homeless Alliance takes donations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily and anyone wanting to donate can set up a time online at https://www.homelessalliance.org/donate to come by and drop off art supplies. They are in need of canvases, acrylic paint and air-dry clay, but anything that can be used to create art is welcome.

They can also paint over canvases that already have some paint on them, so those are welcome as well, Self added.

Artist Rocky Sumpter stands next to his art during a May 31 art show at Homeless Alliance Resource Campus in Oklahoma City.

Rocky Sumpter, another artist, uses masking tape to create works with bold lines and striking contrast. He said he finds inspiration in many places.

“I look for every little trinket, every little thing I can think of. I look in books and things like that and try to come up with ideas,” he said, emphasizing the creativity in the craft.

The Fresh stART program holds both an opportunity for artists to make money with their work, but also a space to connect with personal creation. Fletcher-Hall said sometimes artists come in to create for themselves rather than for the show, such as making pairs of earrings so that they can have something pretty.

The 25 to 30 active artists come and go, but they know they can always come back, Fletcher-Hall said.