At the Magnuson Hotel in Lansing, homeless individuals have a safe place to get off the streets. Now a group of artists is contributing to the cause by donating up to 100 original works of art. The art will be presented to the hotel by the artists at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 4, 2016.
The hotel itself has been transformed by volunteers for Homeless Angels, who have renovated, painted and cleaned the facility. The artists hope their donations will enhance the clean but plain spaces - and inspire hope for the residents within.
The group is calling its project “Art for the Homeless Hotel.” They came together around the idea that everyone deserves art, especially those who can't easily access it.
The artists are mostly local to the Lansing area, but include some artists across the country. The group is led by medical illustrator and fine artist Maya Shoemaker of Dewitt. She met some of the other artists through the Mid Michigan Art Guild in Lansing and the Seven Islands Art Guild in Grand Ledge.
Shoemaker heard about the hotel program earlier this year, and it made an impact on her.
“I have been interested in serving the homeless for quite some time, but didn’t know how to get involved besides supporting local food banks. I can’t imagine not having a home, heat and food - think of how stressful and scary that must be - and I know that it could happen to any of us.”
When Shoemaker approached Mike Karl, the man who started Homeless Angels, he responded, “I love local art. It is amazing. And we do have tons of rooms that need art in them, for sure. I think it would be really cool to embody what we’re doing in a painting.” With that, the project was underway.
Jill Campbell, a professional artist who is donating several paintings says, “Once a person has lost his or her home, self-esteem plummets. The person is concerned with concrete things, and can rarely think of anything higher than food, shelter and safety. Art changes that. Empowered by choosing a piece of art to grace the place they are staying, this enhances their feelings of control over their situation and uplifts their spirit.”
Shoemaker remembers some emotionally trying times in her life, and how looking at art helped her heal.
“A good piece of art is like a good book," Shoemaker says. "It gives you a place to escape, and also to think through your own situation. Sometimes we stare into a thing of beauty - a fire, a garden, a painting - to give our mind a break. And sometimes we stare into it to work through our thoughts and accept our feelings, before we make a plan for the next steps.”
Shoemaker hopes that this project will improve the property in general, provide cheer and optimism to the residents, and also raise awareness and monetary donations for the hotel.
“So far the response from artists has been tremendous. Everyone is amazed to hear of this hotel, and it’s such a tangible way to help people that they want to get involved. It’s also exciting to think about our art being displayed and enjoyed every day, and it gives us more of a purpose, a drive to start and finish work. This cause is important, and so we put aside the fear of a blank canvas and just paint, knowing where the art is going, like a commissioned piece. It’s motivating.”
“This project is all WIN/WIN: and is the beginning of a collaboration that should help the community be increasingly proactive, positive and generous in spirit,” said Jill Campbell.
The media is invited to join us at the art presentation to hotel residents. Residents will have the opportunity to interact with the artists, and to assist in selecting and installing the art in the hotel rooms. Photography and interviews may be coordinated through Maya Shoemaker.
Saturday, June 4, 2016
6 p.m.
at the Magnuson Hotel 6501 S Pennsylvania Ave
Lansing Charter Township, MI 48911
