STORYPAINTINGS

I’m currently working on a series of Storypaintings. A Storypainting tells a story of a person I met, who is down on his or her luck, in need of help – the homeless, Katrina victims, Vietnam veterans, mentally ill, disabled. The people I usually talk to are kind, polite, sharp and willing to do what ever to improve the situation. They are not drunk or high on anything. They have been through a lot in life and it brings a weird sense of wisdom and experience to their presence – even though they still don’t seem to fully acknowledge it. Many have turned their lives around after learning to harness this power by turning the difficult times into strength. The stories are harsh, but also carry a message of hope. The profits of each sold painting will be shared with the person to help them move forward in their lives.

I am very observant and curious as a person and as an artist. I am always looking to learn new things about life and humanity. I talk to people in different situations. I am interested to hear their story. I’ve noticed this only can help enormously – someone cares. We tend to walk around and not even notice these people anymore. They have become invisible. I have also been instructed not to talk to these people by persons walking by. I feel their situation and want to help. The best way I know how is through my art. I make a painting based on the conversations and emotions. Usually the viewer can sense the emotion in them even if they don’t know about the story or the person. I certainly don’t pretend to know everything about these people and the situations they are in. All I know for sure is that the story tells about the reality the person is living in and that makes it true. My aim is not to judge or blame anyone, but to get the story out there, to help, to make people think about what we are used to and how we operate as human beings.

A few examples of the STORYPAINTINGS:

KIM

(you can view the picture at http://www.suvikonttinen.com/pages/sivuja186e.html)

I met Kim on March 2007. I have met Kim several times on the streets because she lives in the park close to where I live. Her eyes begin to tear up as soon as I ask about her history. She told me she lost everything during hurricane Katrina and is currently homeless in Chicago. She used to have a house and a job as a private nurse in New Orleans. The area she lived in is still a disaster zone. She was dropped of to Chicago without money, shelter or contacts. She has had to survive basically without any financial support or network to go to. Kim tells me the shelters don’t take her in because she is not a victim of domestic violence. She has received 600 dollars from the government since Katrina, which of course does not cover much living expenses, food or clothing. She talks about how the government gave some money to hand out to the people in need, but feels like it never reached her. She wonders what ever happened to the money and who might be responsible for taking it. Now she lives solely on panhandling. She is not asking at all, but stands there quietly and humbly.

Kim told me she would like to go back and build a life again in New Orleans, but don't even have money for the ticket. She doesn’t feel she has the money to take the bus back and forth to the office to get an Illinois ID or look for work. And that makes the situation linger. She has to concentrate on the very basics – food, hygiene, safety and shelter. I buy her a sandwich and an ice cream. She tells me she can’t remember the last time she had soft ice. She orders a vegetarian sandwich, because she wants to eat healthy nutrient rich food.

Kim told me it's pretty dangerous out there in the park, and that she's at least happy she doesn't have any children to take care of. It’s just herself. She worries about personal hygiene, which is very important to her and stresses her out. Kim owns only the set of clothes on her as she has no place to keep her things. The people give her clothes sometimes and she changes them every now and then. When ever she can afford a room somewhere she washes the clothes. She was sick for a long period of time and you could tell it was hard for her to live out there in the park. Her eyes tear up again as she tells me she thought about jumping from a bridge, but here she still is. This painting is about her hope and the will to start over in spite her terrible experiences, sadness and lack.

MARCUS

(you can view the picture at http://www.suvikonttinen.com/pages/sivuja187e.html)

I met Marcus in Chicago early May 2007. He is homeless and selling poetry on the streets to cover the costs for shelter. He tells me about his illnesses and that he is glad the medication and food is provided for him, but he has no home. He is a Vietnam veteran; injured and scared for life. He obviously wants to prove this to people - he lifts his shirt and shows me a series of massive scars running up and down his torso. One can see the experiences of war and poverty in his eyes. Still he is smiling. He kisses me on the cheek and says “God bless you darling” when I purchase his poem booklet with 10 dollars. It was a happy encounter. I am glad I met him. I’m surprised to find out later that he writes very spiritual poetry, like this one the painting “Marcus” is based on:

A DESIRE TO BE STRONG

A desire to be strong, a sorrowful fear.

Falling apart, cracking up, no one can help

you out of your particular dilemma.

A finger of doubt, gross paranoia.

A thought a desire to be strong.

A flower blossom, a good feeling of

exuberance, and the manifestation

of enormous inner strength, that

comes from God.