Hobos to Street People -- March 7, 2009

We went downtown to see the new show at the California Historical Society, "Hobos to Street People: Artists’ Responses to Homelessness from the New Deal to the Present." It has photos, lithographs, and paintings from the 1930s and recent times, often in close contrast. There were many photos by Dorothea Lange and Ronal Partridge, and many comparable photos from recent times. CHS's official photographer even put up some photos from the neighborhood. There were several items from the Catholic Workers' movement.

It gave me much to think about. I was struck by the contrast between the New Deal efforts to give people dignity by giving them work and the Reagan-Clinton-Bush efforts to cut off assistance and drive the poor away into hiding. I was also struck by the amount of affordable housing that has been destroyed, and the lack of replacements.

The volunteers seemed very excited to be working on this exhibit. The fire hydrant that flooded the place has a new coat of paint.

We went to Patrick & Company to get some supplies, then to See's for Irish potatos. We went up the street to Virgin Records, which is having a going-out-of-business sale. There were a lot of people. We picked up some cds and dvds and a Ramones t-shirt.

It didn't rain today.