Street scholars display art exhibition - images serve as my soul (Dusseldorf)
In the heart of Bilk, the Evangelical Luther Church Community's Kunstforum is currently hosting an inspiring exhibition titled "Bilder sind meine Seele." This exhibition aligns perfectly with the church community's goal of making art accessible, stimulating thoughts, and addressing societal issues.
The artwork on display showcases a diverse range of techniques, formats, and motifs, created by the participants of the Street Academy. This project, spearheaded by art professor Katharina Mayer, offers weekly artistic guidance and opportunities to people living on the streets. The exhibited pieces include fairy tale-like images, geometric shapes, graffiti-inspired lettering, ornamental methods, informal images, caricatures, figurative images, and fantasy.
Despite the artists' experiences with heavy life crises, traumas, losses, and social exclusion, the works radiate a positive vibe. The Street Academy offers a platform for marginalized individuals to develop artistic skills, gain confidence, and participate in community art activities, aiming to challenge social exclusion and change public perceptions about homelessness by showcasing their artistic talents.
The Street Academy exhibition is free and open to the public until June 25th, in the foyer of the Ev. Luther Church Community, Kopernikusstraße 9b, from Monday to Thursday, 11 am to 5 pm.
The opening of the exhibition was accompanied by musical performances from Christoph Lahme on the harmonium and Oliver Drechsel on the piano. The event also featured a cake buffet provided by the participants of "Housing First meets Gastro," the latest project by fiftyfifty and Professor Katharina Mayer, which aims to help the homeless find jobs after moving into their own apartments.
Mayor Josef Hinkel, Superintendent Heinrich Fucks, and Pastor Ralf Breitkreutz spoke at the opening, emphasizing the importance of community and the work of fiftyfifty and Professor Katharina Mayer in reintegrating the homeless. Numerous guests visited the exhibition on its opening day.
Katharina Mayer, who coined the term "Akademisten" to refer to the participants of the Street Academy she founded with fiftyfifty, expressed her delight about the hosting of the exhibition. The Street Academy offers opportunities and chances to its participants, providing a space for them to express themselves and their experiences through art.
The Street Academy project is a socially engaged arts initiative designed to empower homeless individuals through creative expression and art education. It aims to increase self-esteem among participants, facilitate social reintegration opportunities, and raise awareness on homelessness through art exhibitions and public events.
For more detailed, up-to-date information on Katharina Mayer’s Street Academy, it is recommended to consult Katharina Mayer’s official channels or project-specific publications that describe its methodology, participant stories, and community impact metrics. To date, there have been two successful exhibitions with some sales from the Street Academy.
Visit the exhibition "Bilder sind meine Seele" before it closes on June 25th, and witness the powerful impact of art in empowering marginalized individuals and challenging societal perceptions.
- The Street Academy exhibition, a home-and-garden for diverse art forms, provides a lifestyle transformation for individuals living on the streets by empowering them through creative expression and art education.
- As the Street Academy exhibition continues, exemplifying the power of art in fostering positive change, it serves as a beacon for challenging societal norms and inspiring a home-and-garden movement of inclusion and empathy.
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