I've been wanting a page in my sketchbook that shows the contrasts to be found in shelter. I'm not sure why, I just thought it'd be an interesting thing to compare. Yesterday I taught a drawing class in a town 75 miles from me, so I left early and spent some time drawing houses.
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| Shelter, one from each end of the spectrum in my part of the world |
It was surprising to see the reactions of the people who lived near each house. I sat in my car, the windows down and worked on my lap. On the mobile home street I was given dirty looks and hard stares by the neighbors. The woman who lived in the house I was drawing gave me a quick look and hurried into her house when she got home. I'm not sure they'd have been any easier in their minds if they'd have realized how harmless I was sitting there drawing. I suspect if you live in deep enough poverty anybody would feel like a potential threat.
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| A nervous, but pretty neighborhood, 5" x 8" |
In the neighborhood with more comfortable houses I didn't feel any more welcome. Someone got into a car to drive by and check me out. Then, they turned the car around, parked it and went back into their house. After about 15 minutes, a police officer came by, rolled his window down, looked me right in the eye and drove away without a word. What if I had gotten my easel and folding stool out and set up on the sidewalk to work? Would it have changed attitudes? I'll have to give it a try.
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| Home sweet home, lean but clean, 5" x 8" |
I'm so glad you took some time to spend here today, come again. Alice
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