Open Book Kensington

Overview

Kensington is densely populated and economically depressed. Over the years there has been a disconnect within the community. Open Book Kensington collected stories from community members, allowing them to share their own unique story, in efforts to connect the neighborhood and humanize those suffering from homelessness and addiction. Every person has value. Every person has a story. Every person has value.

About

Over the past months, I have been volunteering in Kensington serving food at Prevention Point on Sundays. In doing so I have met so many people, and have heard so many of their stories. As time went on and I was reflecting and researching more on my project, I began getting more involved. I have been visiting McPherson Library, talking with Miss Judy and some of the other staff, along with some of the neighborhood children who visit the library everyday after school. And that was just the beginning.

I have heard and seen people just try to ignore the homeless and people struggling with addiction; out of sight, out of mind. There tends to be a very prominent “US vs. THEM” mentality. Various artists and journalists have focused on showcasing or highlighting positive stories in the area, or bringing attention to the drugs and homeless over the past few years. In doing so, this helps to reinforce the mindset of many in the area of “us vs. them.” My hope is that I can shine a light on the community as a whole through my project changing the “us vs. them” to “we.”

Many people feel alone and unimportant because of the situations they are in. Society often tries to ignore people who are struggling. I want to remind people that everyone is important no matter what they look like, what they are going through, or the choices they have made. We all have a story. We all have gone through things, both positives and negatives. Our lives and experiences make us who we are.

The goal of my project is to help this community of contrasting populations to connect by recognizing their commonality. McPherson Square Park and Library are at the center of the homeless and opioid crisis, I was thinking how fitting it would be to depict individuals from the community by designing a book cover for each person whose story I collect, thus, my “Open Book” project. Open Book is currently displayed as posters depicting the book covers for the stories I collected. I envision this project to someday be an installation of large scale book covers or a mural. My hope is that, through Open Book, I can shine a light on the community as a whole by humanizing and connecting the community.