Everyday Outsiders
Everyday Outsiders was a project completed by Katie O'Neill in 2018. The projects aim was to get to know some of the numerous people living on the streets in Manchester. A way to try and raise awareness of the situations that were happening in the local area. The portraits of the project were to try and show that despite being on the streets the men and woman are just like everyone else. Where as the more documentary shots taken from a far allow a more in-depth look into the subject.
"When I began the project, it was because a growing number of homeless within Manchester. I was lucky enough to be able to work with an outreach worker, that allowed me to get to know the homeless safely and have access to some of the charities working with the homeless.
Whilst out on the streets with the worker, I was able to talk to a large variety of homeless; talking to them in general and also talking about how they came onto the streets. Through my time doing this project my eyes were opened to the number of people who were on the streets over small things, events that they had no control over. There is an overall thought of the homeless being there because of drink and drugs, but its not until they're actually on on the streets that they have access to these. One man that I spoke to ended up on the streets because they were simply in the hospital and lost their job meaning that eventually they also lost their home. When going to the hospital for support, they turned around to him and simply told him to get a tent.
Another man that I became quite connected to was Steven. Originally from whythenshaw, at the time being on the streets for two years. He became homeless after a divorce; rather than having his ex wife become homeless and he keep the house. He let her have the house and he went onto the streets. He would always camp out outside Sainsbury's within the town and if I was ever walking in that direction I would make sure to stop and get him some food and drink.
The final piece for this project was a negative printed onto some driftwood, with the piece being called "The Drifter." I wanted to use this as my "background" because in some sense the wood is also like the homeless. Something that was used and lived was simply tossed to the side and ignore; much like with how the homeless are being treated by the government and many passers by.
This project is what got me invited to the Manchester Homeless and arts festival, a way to celebrate work created by the homeless and a way to bring attention to the homeless. I was also invited to show the work at UAL origins art festival in London" - Katie O'Neill