I am deeply hurt by this tragedy in Oakland. These artists
these people did not deserve to die this way. I didn’t know anyone who died but just because of who they
were and what they do, did not mean they had to live, work and play in such poor
conditions. These people gathered there because there weren’t many other places
to live and work. The reason why we call art a practice is because you have to
do it over and over to get what you want out of it. But if you’re poor, “different”
and your practice or work doesn’t cater to those in power or have influence,
your options are limited. And we make the best out of those limitations. I’m
sure that night was like any other night where they had an opportunity to share
their work and have fun.
I’m writing this to myself, and particularly those who are
not poor and not artists. I remember growing up in the 80’s where callousness
was embedded in me. I grew up with that thing of if you were different in any
way from your group or community you gave up your right for respect, education,
mentorship and protection. I can’t help but think of those times, how it could
have been me in that fire, and how this culture of cruelty laid the groundwork
for this tragedy and the very real tragedy that is our housing system. As an artist and as someone who has
worked in a housing non-profit, I can say that this kind of tragedy can happen
anywhere and anytime. The
availability for low-income and affordable housing for artists, the poor, working poor, ex-felons, the disabled and veterans is virtually non-existent. Opportunities
for veterans have improved over the years but not for anyone else (in Chicago).
Reports say the CHA is sitting on millions of dollars that could be used for
vouchers or building new homes. This situation leaves people like me very
vulnerable. Some stay with family or friends. Some get involved in shady rental
deals and get swindled out of rent money by building owners and bogus
landlords. Some squat and die in fires due to negligence because they’re just
artists and they should have gotten a “real job”. For us it is a real job.
Maybe our second or third but it is very real and most of us work very hard at
it. Some of us get weeded out by HR, ED’s, curators, bookers, professors, teachers,
elders, family, gatekeepers, gallery directors and critics, but we keep going.
We make opportunities and spaces for ourselves. We don’t wait for someone to
give us permission to do what we do, to hire us, book us or curate us. We
deserve respect and protection for what we do. Why should we have to put our lives in danger just to do our
art? We deserve nothing less than a right to fair housing.
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