Homelessness inspires art exhibit, charity event on NE Campus

By Edna Horton/nw news editor

Some students on NE Campus are auctioning their drawings for a good cause.

Art instructor Andrew Stalder found photographer Rodolphe Simeon’s series The Street online and thought it would be good for his students to use for their reductive tone project.

After they began working, he had the idea to auction the drawings and donate the proceeds to a local homeless shelter.

“As we started working, I said, ‘Hey, class, wouldn’t it be great if we donated these drawings to an auction, and then they donated the money to a shelter?’ They were really excited about it,” he said.

Simeon’s series The Street is a collection of photographs he took of homeless people from all over the world.

Stalder said his students have worked hard on the drawings, and he has kept in contact with Simeon, who is impressed with what the students have done.

“They’re [the students] extremely proud of these drawings. It took a month of class time to draw them,” he said. “Even though it’s hard for them to give them up, they are still happy.”

The class researched several area shelters, picked the top three and then decided on the All Church Home for Children of Fort Worth. Bids start at $20 and are open to everyone. The auction will end at 5 p.m. Nov. 20. The drawings are displayed in the hallway outside NFAB 1302. 

They can also be viewed at http://cartella.tccd.edu/cartella.asp?view=gallery&pageid=1361&gallery=111.

Simeon’s original collection of photos can be viewed online at www.m-peoplephotography.com.

Stalder hopes to continue the auction next fall. He said he didn’t have time to involve all art classes in this one but has plans to make the project bigger in the future.

For more information or to place a bid, contact Stalder at andrew.stalder@tccd.edu.