High note for artists as exhibition finds home at music festival

It’s an Electric Picnic exhibition with a twist – it was created by homeless people. But can it break down stereotypes?

PETER KELLY may not be wearing the bright wellies or the casual-chic confidence of many of the artists at Electric Picnic next month, but his journey there has probably been more interesting than most.

Kelly (54) is one of the artists participating in the Life's No Picnic on the Streetsexhibition, and his friends will be challenging many festival-goers' preconceptions about homelessness through a novel event featuring video installations, poetry, film and theatre.

Homeless for many years, Kelly now lives in Sundial House in Dublin, a facility run by Depaul Ireland. The Mullingar man, a former scrap dealer, says that one of the best aspects of the art project is that he has had less time to drink. “This has kept me occupied. If I was doing it for eight or nine hours a day I probably would not drink at all,” he says.

Empty beer cans and cider flagons are among the props he used in two eye-catching sculptures that reflect his interest in recycling while making a tongue-in-cheek statement about his life.

The exhibition is a collaboration between residents of Sundial House, and other facilities run by the charity, and a number of artists, who have been working with them for the past year.

Nicki Jordan of Depaul Ireland says the impact of the art workshops on people, some of whom still battle alcoholism and a range of health problems, “surpassed all expectations”.

“They have become motivated, some have discovered talents they never used before, their self-esteem has got a boost, and some who would have struggled in groups are engaging better with other service users,” she says.

The results, which will be on display at a chill-out tent in the Mindfield area at Electric Picnic, have gratified the participants, and now they are hoping that the festival audience will not just admire the artwork, but will rethink their assumptions about homelessness.

One of the most interesting works will be Populous 3, involving 500 original cast figures hand-painted by Depaul service users, which will be dispersed around the festival grounds.

“Festival-goers can ignore them, walk past them, stand on them, pick them up, admire them and read the message – the choice is theirs,” says Paraic McQuaid, the project’s artistic director. “It will reflect the wider community’s attitude to homeless people, and it is interesting that most people will be towering over these little figures.”

Theatre director Grace Dyas will direct a flash mob theatre event, which will involve actors performing drama sketches written by Depaul service users.

“Many stories came out in these workshops which never emerged during counselling,” says McQuaid. “For some people, the workshops became a key to unlocking their own stories, while for others it probably was more of an escape.”

He is hoping that festival-goers engage in the drama, which will happen in spontaneous bursts throughout the festival – symbolically, in a very large cardboard box.

Tom, another Depaul service user who slept rough for five years, has caught everyone by surprise with his drawing skills. “Drawing seems to slow down his drinking and keep him calm,” says McQuaid. He also tells me that all Depaul staff and volunteers will be wearing T-shirts with one of Tom’s sketches on the front.

Sundial House is the first permanent home Tom has had for many years. He says the art has given him “a bit of comfort”, and now he too drinks less. “I used to drink out of boredom, but I feel I am doing something useful now. If you don’t have anything, you fall asunder.”

Kerry Anthony, chief executive of Depaul Ireland, who was presented with an MBE at Buckingham Palace last May, says the charity works with the long-term homeless and people with a history of street drinking or substance abuse.

Depaul has a policy of not requiring residents to stop drinking or abusing substances before accommodating them, but they work with service users on harm reduction.

“People make a lot of assumptions about the homeless. They assume that they have always drunk or have always been on the streets, but we have also come across, for example, former teachers, civil servants or health officials who, because of some crisis ended, up in this situation,” says Anthony.

Three years ago, Depaul got involved with Electric Picnic, and according to Anthony the festival is now a highlight for many residents, who work towards it throughout the year.

“We have seen very clearly the therapeutic benefits. Some have been telling stories we never heard before, and by their involvement in Electric Picnic they are breaking down stereotypes.”

depaulireland.org