On HooplaHa - Eclectic Artist Brings Homelessness To Light Through Thought-Provoking Collection

Article in Dallas Morning News and other updates!

Thanks to Melissa Repko for this wonderful article in the Dallas Morning News (photos by Kirsten Kearse and Tom Fox). A great job of capturing some of the poignant details from our cross country trip. You can read the story here! So much going on with the project these days, speaking engagements in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Indiana in the next couple of months. Meetings with possible donors to help fund our last phases of post-production. Yesterday got an email from Money.com (part of TIME magazine) about interest in a story. Overwhelmed by the interest in this project AND by all the love and support from so many big-hearted people. Thank you.  #gratitude #weareallhomeless 

Art and Seek story by Jerome Weeks on WE ARE ALL HOMELESS

Many thanks to Jerome for this thoughtful piece! You can listen to the story here.

A (partial) media recap of the WE ARE ALL HOMELESS cross country trip!

We were blessed to get SO much attention during our cross country trip, beginning in Seattle and lasting pretty much throughout our travels. There are still at least 4 stories in progress as this is being written, but below are some of the links to stories of the project. Many thanks to all the wonderful reporters that spent time with us buying signs in cities across the country, and to Adrienne, who helped us with PR along the way. The team is hard at work on the documentary and the upcoming exhibit, so stay tuned, and thanks as always for your support and encouragement!

CBSChicago
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/07/18/artist-buying-signs-from-homeless-for-exhibit/

D Magazine
http://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2013/september/signs-of-the-homeless

Daily Gazette
http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2014/aug/06/artist-crafts-homeless-signs-advocacy-art/

Daily Good
http://www.dailygood.org/story/835/what-does-home-even-mean-michell-burwell/

Digital Journal
http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/2087196

Fast Company Blog (posted by Katie Couric)
http://blog.fastcompany.com/post/85742148223/katiecouric-dallas-artist-willie-baronet-has

Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/15/willie-baronet-homeless-signs_n_5332592.html

IndyStar
http://www.indystar.com/story/life/2014/07/18/artist-collects-homeless-signs-indy/12840879/

INSP
http://www.streetnewsservice.org/news/2014/july/feed-436/cardboard-canvas.aspx

KERA
http://keranews.org/post/handmade-signs-homeless-people-lead-art-understanding

Kindness Blog
http://kindnessblog.com/2014/07/18/we-are-all-homeless/

Las Vegas Channel 13
http://www.jrn.com/ktnv/now-trending/Artist-collecting-homeless-signs-makes-stop-in-Las-Vegas-266031931.html

MKP
http://mkpusa.org/willie-baronet/

NPR - All Things Considered
http://www.npr.org/2014/07/27/335839155/handmade-signs-from-homeless-people-lead-to-art-understanding

North Carolina Public Radio
http://wunc.org/post/handmade-signs-homeless-people-lead-art-understanding

NUVO
http://www.nuvo.net/indianapolis/we-are-all-homeless/Content?oid=2880012#.U93DMlZw740

Perspective Daily
http://perspectivedaily.com/2014/08/we-are-all-homeless/

Philly.com - The Philadelphia Inquirer
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20140730_Plowing_the_pleas_of_the_homeless_into_art.html

Pittsburgh City Paper
http://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/signed-prints-artists-work-brings-voice-of-the-homeless-off-the-street-and-into-galleries/Content?oid=1768547

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2014/07/25/Professor-buys-signs-from-homeless-for-art-project/stories/201407250035

Pocono Record
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140726/NEWS90/140729864/-1/NEWS

PRWeb
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/07/prweb12048081.htm

Real Change / Seattle
http://realchangenews.org/index.php/site/archives/9134

San Angelo Times
http://www.gosanangelo.com/entertainment/arts-and-culture/artist-crafts-homeless-signs-into-advocacy-art_83984947

San Diego Living
http://www.sandiego6.com/san-diego-living/The-Homeless-Finding-Hope-Through-Art-266461851.html

Seattle Times
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2023979996_jdlcolumn03xml.html

SFGate
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Across-the-Country-Willie-Baronet-is-Seeing-the-5655151.php

TruthAtlas
http://truthatlas.com/home-even-mean-one-mans-asking-homeless/

Twin Cities Pioneer Press
http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_26159168/20-guys-homeless-sign-st-paul-this-artist?source=rss

UTNE Reader
http://www.utne.com/community/its-a-sign.aspx#axzz392bs6d7b

Washington Times
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jul/25/professor-buys-signs-from-homeless-for-art-project/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS

The Week
http://theweek.com/speedreads/index/265431/speedreads-to-raise-awareness-artist-buys-signs-from-the-homeless-turns-them-into-art

WKRC Cincinnati
http://www.local12.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/artist-buys-signs-homeless-people-project-14858.shtml#.U80YyTR1byw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2poX656UafM

WTMJ - Milwaukee
http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/Texas-artist-in-Milwaukee-on-nationwide-homeless-sign-buying-tour-267229851.html

Yahoo! News
http://news.yahoo.com/artists-unusual-homeless-sign-collection-makes-some-people-uncomfortable-144416870.html
http://news.yahoo.com/video/willie-baronet-buys-homeless-signs-220612134.html

All things considered, this was amazing.

The WE ARE ALL HOMELESS project was featured on one of my favorite programs of all time: All Things Considered. What an honor it was to be on this program.

You can hear the story here!

Thanks to all of you for your continued support!

Article in the Philadelphia Inquirer!

Thank you Jeff Gammage for this wonderful article. And for hanging out with us in Philly for a few magical hours.

Thanks to our Day Sponsor David Kiger (for all you do) and to Worldwide Express, our official shipping partner.

UTNE Reader covers WE ARE ALL HOMELESS

It's a Sign. You can read the article here.

Today is the last day of the cross country journey. Above are the signs we bought yesterday in New York. It was a good day. Today we package and ship our final shipment of signs and begin the process of saying goodbye to this phase of this project. But there is more to come!

Thanks to our Day Sponsor David Kiger (for all you do) and to Worldwide Express, our official shipping partner.

Magic in Baltimore

Me and Elli and Michelle in Baltimore. Elli sold me her sign that she used a year ago while living on the streets. She also sold me her mother's sign, her cousin's sign and 2 more. She is 17, from Romania, speaks 5 languages and is trying to go to school. Michelle is an angel who is trying to help her (along with fellow angel Patty). And I met both of them because of another angel,Kara, who is a dear friend of mine in Baltimore. 

It was a magical and powerful time in Baltimore.

Followed by an interesting time in Atlantic City, where we saw NOT ONE sign.

Followed by a great day in Philly, where we bought 8 signs (so far) and did an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer. And had some good conversations on the streets. And met a bartender who teaches his 8th graders about homelessness by having them interview a homeless person. His name was Dan, he served us dinner on a restaurant on a boat, which is apparently the only 4 masted sailing vessel on the planet. And the food was good.

Today we leave for New York, our final stop. I'm sad and happy and grateful and tired. And the Dream Team seems like they might be tired too. It ain't over yet, and it's been indescribable. More to come!

All posts on social media today are sponsored by Indiegogo donor Bob Lilly Jr., my friend with a big ole heart!

WKRC in Cincinnati - A full day of buying signs

WKRC in Cincinnati did this story last night about the project. It was a powerful and fulfilling day there of buying signs. Had so many meaningful conversations with the homeless that ranged from my telling some other Navy veterans about my brother Neal, who is in the Navy, to hearing one young man tell us he'd do anything (including prostituting himself) in order to get heroin. It's overwhelming to hear all these stories, and the best I can do sometimes is listen and try to send out some love in that way. It's heartbreaking on a regular basis, and the Dream Team (Tim, Eamon, and Oli) and I have to work to take care of ourselves in this process as well. More and more it becomes clear how complex the problem of homelessness is, and how much help is needed. Thank you all for your continued support and encouragement, we read it to each other each day and it makes a difference. It's been hard to keep up with all the media, but we're sharing when we can, and will compile a complete list once the trip is over. Bought our first sign in Detroit right after arriving here last night. Will post a photo of it soon! Also ate Skyline Chili in Cincinnati, which is a thing. Thanks to Samantha Eve andJustin Bagley for their help in Cincinnati yesterday (and for the humor!).#weareallhomeless #grateful

St. Paul Pioneer Press article by Richard Chin

Our trip continues to be full of wonderful encounters with so many people. Had good days in both Minneapolis and Milwaukee, and are now in Chicago! Wanted to share this article in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, written by Richard Chin, who rode with us for a while as we bought signs. And special thanks to Scott Simmons and Margaret Mary Kelly for hanging with us and sharing about some of the work they do in the city. And extra special thanks to Tanya, who made an "almost" surprise visit to Chicago and bought 2 signs for us before we even arrived! It's a glorious day and I'm feeling #grateful. #weareallhomeless

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_26159168/20-guys-homeless-sign-st-paul-this-artist

A Magical day in Omaha.

#weareallhomeless #homeless #omaha Had a beautiful conversation with Michael, a Vietnam vet who lost one leg to type 1 diabetes. He was with a group of Lakota who didn't want to be on camera, but who liked the project. And as we were leaving one of them said "all my relations" which is the one phrase I know in Lakota. Two of the signs we bought were drawn by Running Bear. It was a magical day. Again.

Dinell and I interviewed for the Albuquerque Journal

Article from the Albuquerque Journal. Meeting Dinell was one of the highlights of this trip so far. #weareallhomeless

Article in Seattle Times

Read the article here!

Day 1: Seattle

First 3 signs of the trip! Seattle, day 1. Had a great interview with Real Change newspaper, and met Mike Johnson of the Seattle Union Gospel Mission. And met a homeless man from New Orleans! Fulfilling day. #weareallhomeless #waahctc

Care2.com features WE ARE ALL HOMELESS

Budapest, New York, and Dallas. Three projects raising awareness about homelessness. So honored to be one of them! Thanks again for your support and encouragement. 

Read the article here!

The WE ARE ALL HOMELESS project mentioned today in the Dallas Observer! Thanks to Danielle Georgiou (friend, inspiration, and funder) for the interview! 

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/mixmaster/2014/06/100_creatives_no_97_humanitarian_artist_wille_baronet.php

Please donate to our Indiegogo campaign!

A 31-day, 24 city coast to coast homeless sign buying trip, including art installations, a documentary, a book and more. Click here to check it out or donate!

Thank you as always for your support!