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Street Artist Spray-Paints Imaginary Homes For Homeless To Highlight Poverty
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Street Artist Spray-Paints Imaginary Homes For Homeless To Highlight Poverty

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Is this installation art or graffiti? An anonymous LA artist who goes by the moniker of Skid Robot has been going around Los Angeles’ skid row areas with a spray can painting creating imaginary homes for the homeless people he finds there, leaving care packages for all of them and talking to the ones he finds awake. His intention? To get people to talk about extreme poverty and help find solutions for it.

These augmented graffiti artworks, which are documented on his Instagram account, may seem whimsical at first glance, but they also show how harsh homelessness can be to many. On LA’s Skid Row, an estimated 3,000 to 6,000 homeless people make their disposable, makeshift homes right on the streets. It’s graffiti art with a powerful message.

The artist behind Skid Robot agreed to an interview with Bored Panda. Read on for more!

More info: Instagram | Tumblr (h/t: Vice)

When asked what other ways the artist works with the homeless, they explained, “I volunteer my time once a week at a homeless center hosting an art group for a couple of hours trying to convince those who attend that  art truly is the best drug. Which it is, there is no greater high that one can feel then exercising the creative mind.

The artist explained that the care packages contain “snacks, toiletries, water, socks, underwear, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush. We try to provide as much as we can based on donations and what we can afford.
The artist stops to talk to most of the homeless people they meet; “Most conversations are about who they are and where they are from. I ask about what life is like for them on Skid Row and if there is anything I can do to help.
I inquire if  getting sober is something they would like to do, I offer them an invitation to the art group in hopes they show and make an effort to get clean. I mention to them what the overall goal of the project is.
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They are for the majority supportive of the project and give me best wishes in succeeding. Its not often I get someone who is overly pessimistic.

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sumeetkaur avatar
SumeetKaur
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i think we should help such people . God has given us everything . now its time to help our fellow beings & make them enjoy their lives too

chrisou avatar
chrisou
Community Member
9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

How can we help mentally ill persons ? That's the overwhelming majority of the people on the street.

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virgomaiden81 avatar
virgomaiden81
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope Ur giving those homeless ppl , Ur using for these pics.some kind of compensation like food, clean clothes, $!

the.blues.radio avatar
Kleiner
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really like the mountains ideea of a pour man's tent. The world is a sad place because it is owned by rich cruell people.

leahj avatar
Leah J
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even if they were mentally ill, we could help them, at least to be comfortable.

frederic.eeckman avatar
Frédéric Eeckman
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The idea is nice, but I'm afraid a lot of people will just see that as "cute" or something like that, missing the whole point...

larrynelson7 avatar
LarryNelson
Community Member
9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Ah, the good life! No rent to pay, no taxes, free food from the state, and soon to star in your own reality show on the Discovery channel !

sumeetkaur avatar
SumeetKaur
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i think we should help such people . God has given us everything . now its time to help our fellow beings & make them enjoy their lives too

chrisou avatar
chrisou
Community Member
9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

How can we help mentally ill persons ? That's the overwhelming majority of the people on the street.

Load More Replies...
virgomaiden81 avatar
virgomaiden81
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope Ur giving those homeless ppl , Ur using for these pics.some kind of compensation like food, clean clothes, $!

the.blues.radio avatar
Kleiner
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really like the mountains ideea of a pour man's tent. The world is a sad place because it is owned by rich cruell people.

leahj avatar
Leah J
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even if they were mentally ill, we could help them, at least to be comfortable.

frederic.eeckman avatar
Frédéric Eeckman
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The idea is nice, but I'm afraid a lot of people will just see that as "cute" or something like that, missing the whole point...

larrynelson7 avatar
LarryNelson
Community Member
9 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Ah, the good life! No rent to pay, no taxes, free food from the state, and soon to star in your own reality show on the Discovery channel !

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