Hobos to Street People: Artists' Responses to Homelessness from the New Deal to the Present

On Saturday, Elle and I were honored to autograph copies of Until They Have Faces at the Loveland Museum/Gallery.  This display of the book and book signing were part of the Museum's exhibit, Hobos to Street People: Artists' Responses to Homelessness from the New Deal to the Present.

A kind museum visitor took this photo of Maryjo, Elle and me on Saturday at the exhibit.

The Loveland Museum's exhibit was tremendous!  It is a traveling exhibition and compares artistic interpretations of homelessness.  Particularly meaningful to me was the Dorothea Lang: Precarious Lives component of the exhibit.  Her black and white photographs of migrant workers during the Dust Bowl era were especially striking. Showing DMPage Images photographs at an exhibit with Dorothea Lang photographs was a great honor.

A delightful component of the event occurred when Maryjo Morgan, a Loveland resident and one of the book's volunteer writers, surprised us by visiting and autographing books, too. We had not seen Maryjo for about a year, and she had not yet had the opportunity to see a book (the copy she purchased is still being held for her by a friend in Boulder.)

The exhibit runs until August 12.  While Until They Have Faces will no longer be on exhibit there, the Museum will host a variety of special and related exhibits and programs.  For more information, go to:  

http://www.cityofloveland.org/index.aspx?page=1800

Projet En Vue (Project In View)

Since this project began, we have become increasingly aware of others who share the desire to tell a story with words and images.  I have had the privilege of meeting with some, with others we exchange emails.  Last week Saskia Levy-Sheon and I shared a telephone conversation about Until They Have Faces and Projet En Vue, a collaborative project to produce a photojournalistic journey through Oakland, California.  Sati Faulks, a photographer, and Saskia, an activist and oral historian, are working together to collect and preserve the stories of Oakland residents through interviews and portraits. They want to represent the vibrancy and diversity of Oakland as a community and also to create a space for people to share their stories and have meaningful conversations.

Saskia and I discussed project funding and the importance of gathering like-minded individuals and organizations that share the project's objectives.  That was instrumental with Until They Have Faces and we will be forever thankful for the organizations and individuals that partnered with us and made our project possible.

For more information on Projet En Vue and what Saskia and Sati are doing in Oakland, visit these sites:
   www.projetenvue.org
   http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1682512818/projet-en-vue

The Community Celebration is this Coming Sunday, April 22

Live music, good food, interesting people -- it will all be at the Community Celebration.

This upcoming Sunday, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at First Congregational Church - the corner of Pine and Broadway in Boulder - BOHO will be hosting the community event and will celebrate Until They Have Faces.

Lisa Bell, an outstanding local singer/songwriter with a heart for the less fortunate, will perform at the Celebration.  Also, the Drifter Band (Keith Murdock, Ricky Fox, Margaret Moore) will be on-hand to entertain.

Admission is free!  Books will be available for sale.  The inventory is running low (yahoo!  that's good news!)  So, if you haven't yet obtained your book, be sure to come.

For additional details, email info@BOHOcommunity.com.



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At Innisfree Poetry Bookstore & Cafe

According to this caption, Elle and I were "more."


Last evening, Elle and I were honored to be the featured guests of Brian Buckley at his Innisfree Poetry Bookstore & Cafe.  That wonderful shop is at 1203 13th Street in Boulder.


Innisfree is a coffee shop, book store, study area, and live entertainment venue on "the Hill."  In fact, Innisfree is only the third exclusively-poetry bookstore to open in the United States.  As a socially-aware enterprise in a student-populated area, Brian warmly welcomed us to tell our story to the students and locals gathered in Innisfree's poetry reading area.


From 7:00 pm to about 8:45, we sat at the microphone, told the story of the book, and answered some outstanding questions from the CU students and other members of the audience.  We were particularly touched by the direct and insightful nature of the questions and comments.


The photo at the top shows the poetry reading area.  The pic is ripped from the Innisfree website.  Of course, that's not Elle and me behind the mic!

How Can You Get a Book?

Ever since the books were released on March 3, there have been questions about how to get a book.  Are they available in bookstores?  Can they be purchased online?  The answer to both questions is, no.  The only way to get a book is to connect with Bridge House.  The folks at Bridge House are maintaining an inventory.  They will be happy to take your check for $35.00, payable to Bridge House, and provide you with a book. 


For people that are out of town, the expense will be more like $40.00 in order to pay for a shipping envelope and USPS postage.


This is the contact information for Bridge House:
  http://boulderbridgehouse.org/
  (303) 442-8300
  1120-1/2 Pine Street (behind the First Congregational Church)
  Boulder, CO 80302






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An Evening to Remember!

This past Saturday's celebration was nothing short of amazing!  By some estimates, 200 or so authors, homeless subjects, sponsors and friends were on hand to welcome the book's launch.

Here are some photos, all by Sarah Cooper, to help us remember the evening.

Seeing the book for the first time.

Mark & Laura Barns with Cheryl Ann Miller and John Aldridge.

Deb Spence and author Jodi Burnett.

Elle Page, author Doug Hill and David Page

Andy McCullough, author Tim Johnson, and subject, Mike

The books on stage

Jay Millard of the Boulder Valley Rotary Club, a book sponsor.

Norris and Teri Hermsmeyer speaking with subject, Chris.

Diane Brown and Jack Olson

Kendall Pischke, Robin Flannery, Kathy Kilcullen, Elle Page

Subjects Eric and Dee Dee

Rachel Strobel, Elle Page, David Page, Hannah Bragg, Ken Miller (event coordinator) , Mary Howard

David Craig, Elle Page, Ruth Craig

Ken Schutz and Julie Webster of sponsor Niwot High School International Baccalaureate Programme

Cheryl Ann and Mike Miller

Matt Dolan of sponsor Rotary Club of Niwot, and Dany McCoy

Anne Doyle of BOHO and George Epp of Bridge House being presented with the books                  by David and Elle Page

Elle and David Page, and authors

David and Elle Page presenting a framed book cover to Joy Ekstine (in absentia)

Ken Miller, event coordinator and program moderator

It's This Saturday Night!

The big event - the book launch - and many people's first opportunity to see the book, occurs this Saturday evening at Cornerstone Church in Boulder.  This is the big event that is being sponsored by Project Revive and is being set-up and staffed by a tremendous group of volunteers.  Here's the link for advance registration for the event.
   www.tinyurl.com/untiltheyhavefaces

Also, I received a message while traveling in Texas yesterday.  Erica Meltzer, Daily Camera Staff Writer, wanted information for a story that she was preparing for inclusion in this morning's paper.  Well, I called and gave her information and a photo, she spoke with Elle, and she finished her story.  Erica did a wonderful job of capturing what Elle and I hoped to do with the book!  Here's a link Erica's writing from today's online and print edition of today's Daily Camera:
   http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_20075066

Erica's story also appeared this morning in the Longmont Times-Call online edition.

Hoping to see you on Saturday evening!


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A Milestone is Reached

Today, I received an email from someone asking to be put on the list of those who have reserved copies of Until They Have Faces:  Stories of Recovery, Resilience and Redemption.  That's not unusual.  However, this note, from Rick T. of Loveland, CO requested one book, and that happens to be the 125th book reserved on my list.  That means that 25 percent of our print run of 500 books has been reserved and the books, while printed, delivered and in storage, have not yet even started to be distributed!

On top of this, I learned yesterday that the wonderful people from Project Revive that are planning the March 3 book launch event are also holding a reservation list.  While I expect that their list isn't as long as mine, unless it's a complete duplication, even more books are being reserved.

And, since each person that attends the launch event will receive a book, that means that still more books will be taken.

All this is to say, if you haven't reserved a book, now is the time!  Remember that 100 percent of the money from book sales will go to Bridge House and BOHO; very good causes!

Book Availability

It's been a month since the last post.  Since then, most of the work has been behind the scenes, either with the printer or the party planners.

First, the printer.  Vision Graphics in Loveland is printing the books.  We just got notice yesterday that the printing and binding has been completed.  They are now boxing the books for delivery!  Pretty exciting, huh!!

The party planners have been hard at work, preparing a great launch celebration that's worthy of the effort and the cause that we are supporting.  The books will be unveiled at the event and distribution will begin to those that reserved a copy.  Here are some updated details on the launch event....

• Location:  Cornerstone Church, 1190 South Lashley Lane, Boulder
• Date & Time:  Saturday, March 3, 2012, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
• What:  Meet book authors, members of the homeless services community, mingle, enjoy wine and hors d'oeuves, celebrate, and get your book autographed!
• Tickets:  Will be available online as soon as some system delays are resolved.
• Price:  $55 includes admission for one, and one book.  $75 includes admission for two, and one book.  
• Author Price:  $35 includes admission and one book.  An author's guest will be admitted for $20.  
• Book Price:  $35.  
• Official invitations:  The planners are busily working on creating a marketing flyer for the launch event, as well an Evite invitation. 

Be sure to tell your friends and associates about the event, AND about their ability to reserve a copy of the book.  Remember, no money is due until the books are available.  Send contact information, including the quantity of books desired, to David@DMPageImages.com and you will be placed on the reservation list.

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An Upcoming Launch

Ken Miller, Director of Project Revive, is leading the community-wide effort to celebrate the release of Until They Have Faces: Stories of Recovery, Resilience, and Redemption.  We expect that this will be one of two related events to release the book and honor both those in Boulder's homeless community and those that serve them.

On the evening of Saturday, March 3, at Cornerstone Church in south Boulder, a celebration event will be held.  The atmosphere for the event will have an upscale, cocktail party feel.  We expect that there will be live music, a chance to speak with some of the subjects of the book and some of the writers, and an opportunity to visit with sponsors and members of the community that serve the homeless.

The planners expect that there will be a cover charge for the event.  That price will likely pay for a book, hors d'oeuvres and beverages, live music, and a contribution to our recipient organizations - Bridge House and BOHO.

More information on this event will follow as the planners continue their work and release additional information.  But for now, hold the date of March 3, 2012 for an event at Cornerstone Church (1190 South Lashley Lane), from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.

Additionally, another group led by Nancy Brinks is planning a complimentary event.  It is expected that this event will have a lower-key tone and will be designed for and to specifically meet the desires of those in the homeless community.  Likely also to be held in a Boulder church, this event will celebrate the contribution of the homeless to the book project.

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