Kickstarter

The Starving Artists Project is a social initiative dedicated to becoming a megaphone for the unheard voices and ignored messages of New York City’s homeless community. The problem right now is we don’t even see their messages. We pass by, focused on our own day. If we do notice, we see them as an inconvenience or an interruption. Either way, they're lost. We believe the solution lies in redirecting their artful cries for help from the streets to a more suitable environment where they can be properly appreciated to inspire greater action.

Created out of discarded cardboard and left behinds, these pure pieces of self-expression are the only means of communication the homeless community has, each one expressing a basic human need in a creative way, completely unique to the “artist’s” life. We believe amplifying the words of the homeless to the world can bring about a more profound change.

In order to fully bring their messages to life we teamed up with award-winning photographer and film director, Andrew Zuckerman www.andrewzuckerman.com. Famous for his trademark dramatic portrait work and stark white backgrounds, his distinct style was perfect for showcasing these artists in a respectful and dignified way while giving a humanity to those we often don’t even look in the eye.

Partnering with the project as well is New York City Coalition Against Hunger www.nyccah.org. As a local charity it is the voice of over 1,200 nonprofit soup kitchens and food pantries in New York City dedicated to feeding the homeless community as well as more than 1.4 million low income New Yorkers who can’t afford enough food.

Here’s where we really need your help. Our goal is to raise enough funds to cover the costs of creating a gallery exhibition, which will serve as one of the forums we need to showcase the portraits of our artists along with their artful pieces of self-expression. These costs will specifically go towards printing and framing large portraits and photographs of the art. Funds will also go towards securing gallery space at a local venue to house this exhibition. It is our intention at the gallery event to raise money where 100% of all proceeds will be given to our partner, the NYCCAH.

Any leftover funds will be put towards printing posters, which will be housed in the donated space of bus shelters. The intent here is to bring the artists’ message back to the streets where it can then be intercepted within a space appropriately designed to display messaging/communication.

Thanks for listening. This is a project we believe in. We hope you do too. Any contribution will help bring the voice and messages of the homeless to a forum where real, sincere change can take place.

www.starvingartistsproject.org

NOTE: The materials featured in this video serve only as reference and do not reflect the work of Andrew Zuckerman or the final project. This video will not be used for personal profit in any way, but as a means to inspire action.