Click link for Brochure: “No Place to Go” Exhibit
Pat Berger: An artist with a cause
The Marshall LeKAE Gallery is pleased to announce an upcoming art exhibit by Los Angeles based artist Pat Berger, whose poignant paintings of homelessness have raised awareness and consciousness about this avoided topic. Congresswoman Gabby Gifford’s spokesperson Julian Levesque will be attending and speaking during the exhibit. This art show was originally inspired by Pat’s visit to a food and shelter outreach in LA around 1985. This experience was followed by at least five years of activism, interacting and getting to know her subject, which then transpired into a series of 35 paintings and lithographs intended to spread knowledge and hopefully influence action to be taken and encourage change for this worldwide problem.
Pat Berger’s paintings depicting the crisis of homelessness in our society are formally straightforward and uncompromising works. These pieces are not only beautifully done in a technical sense, but also speak loudly on the subject manner at hand. With these paintings, Berger points to the callousness and disregard that we, as a society, have developed towards the people experiencing struggle and/or poverty. The support, protection and care that a community affords is often blotted out in the homeless experience by the alienation, hopelessness and dehumanization wrought by life on the streets.
Bergers images provide an intimate look at the homeless America’s struggle for food, clothing and shelter- the basic ingredients of survival taken for granted by so many of us.
Looking at these paintings, viewers may become uncomfortably aware of the fragility of their own security as they realize that homelessness is not just the fate of drunks and addicts but also of many hard-working families who suddenly fell through the safety net. This is most definitely a show you do not want to miss or be a part of. Take this opportunity to help, even in the smallest way.
Patrons can bring canned goods or any other items they would like to donate throughout the duration of the show.
