SAN ANTONIO – Their stories are rarely told but a project spearheaded by artist Seth Camm hopes to change that with each brush stroke.
Camm is telling the homeless community's stories through portraits.
Crystal Dillard, a Haven for Hope resident, admits she never had much to smile about until now. She was chosen by Camm to share her story.
"And now that I'm able to tell this, it's my dream come true," said Dillard.
Dillard is part of Camm's exhibit and documentary the "Homeless Project." For the past 12 years, he's dedicated himself and much of his career to painting America's homeless population and documenting their stories.
"I'm basically trying to make it possible that people can understand and relate a little bit more to people on the streets," said Camm.
Dillard said she's been in and out of Haven for Hope for the past two years. All her life, she said she never had a stable family life or a place to call her own. As a mother of four, she said people may see sadness in her portrait; Hope is what she wants people to walk away with.
"Just to be able to smile and say there is hope and there's a light at the end of the tunnel," said Dillard.
"Being able to understand another person's story, that's what it's all about," said Camm.
Camm was homeless while working on this documentary, and traveled from shelter to shelter collecting stories.
His hope is that people who see his work will be more empathetic towards the homeless population.
If you would like to see this exhibit, it will be at the San Antonio Art League & Museum, located at 130 King William Street. The opening reception will be Sunday, Sept. 7 from 3 to 5 pm.
The Homeless Project exhibition will be open from Sept. 9 to Oct. 19, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.