Why Aren't We There Yet? Is a series of collaborative video portraits of my neighbors living at the on the street at the Ashby/Shellmound Freeway Interchange in Berkeley, CA. Using a shadow screen to capture gesture and light, as well as text and audio, the project provided a space and opportunity for each participating individual to express themselves as they wished in a location where they were currently or had previously experienced homelessness. The project culminated in a video projection installation on Shattuck Ave in downtown Berkeley in May 2021. This project was funded by a grant from the City of Berkeley’s Civic Arts Department.
Click on any image below to view each individual’s video.
Brandon/Grimm
Bobby
Ashley
Dartagnan
Laura
Patrick
Juanita and Asia
Ray
In May 2021 a video projection installation was created in a large empty storefront at 2200 Shattuck Avenue in downtown Berkeley to showcase these portraits. The intention to use a storefront location for the installation was to give as much space (and thus real estate) to the voices, wisdom and talents of these individuals as possible, so that they could be heard by the public and ideally take their rightful place in the discourse on housing rights and activism for the unhoused in California.
Above: Video documentation of the Why Aren’t We There Yet? multi-media installation at 2200 Shattuck Ave in May 2021 depicting portraits of nine residents of the neighborhood at the Ashby/Shellmound interchange on I-80 Eastbound.