The story: The City of Chicago as seen through the lenses of homeless photographers. I met them through a Catholic Charities program called “Visions of my Life.”
Behind the story: Every Tuesday, Catholic Charities hosts a supper for 130 hungry and homeless men and women. Since about 2002, many of them have been offered disposable cameras and the chance to capture their views of life in Chicago. I spoke with several, including Joseph Trimarco, a 57 year old man who graduated from Oak Park River Forest High School, has a degree from Roosevelt University and, these days, lives by his wits on the streets of Chicago and Minneapolis.
Photo by Joseph Trimarco
Update: There is now a website for the program, where you can view and purchase many photos.
Recently, I asked someone from “Visions of My Life” for any news about the program or the people I interviewed. Here’s what he sent me:
“Three of the four photographers you featured in the June 2009 piece remain active in Catholic Charities’ “Visions of My Life” program. Joseph Trimarco and Ray Bauzys are regular guests at the Tuesday Night suppers. They remain after the dinner to discuss photography, critique others’ work and share their own images.
Photography remains a big part of their lives as they continue to shoot in and around Chicago. Both have purchased digital cameras from the proceeds they earned in last year’s show. In addition, Ray purchased a computer on which he has downloaded all of his images.
Ray taught one of the introduction to photography classes this Fall, a requirement for Tuesday Night supper guests who wish to participate in the “Visions” program.
According to Jody O’Connor, volunteer program coordinator, Ray used his computer to show images and explain exactly how he made each shot. The dinner guests were very focused on him and asked many questions.
Amie Davis remains committed to the program, has her own camera and computer, and as a legally blind person continues to find that photography is a big part of her life.”
For the first time in the 11-year history of the program, an off-site show of the art was in June 2011 at Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outside Art, 756 North Milwaukee Ave. Chicago, Il.
For more information:
After Supper: Visions of My Life
Intuit:The Center for Intuitive and Outside Art
