detour The Melbourne Citymission calendar for 2012 is a beauty. It features a range of different artworks of homeless people, done by Melbourne artists.

The artworks are on display as part of the Detour: Portraits From A Hard Road exhibition at the Dog's Bar in St Kilda from now until January 29 2012 and all proceeds from calendars sold go straight back to Melbourne Citymission.

Ruth Heenan, Innovation and Development Manager at Melbourne Citymission, guest blogs to tell us the story behind the artworks and the calendar.

Portraits are often the domain of the rich and famous, however a group of Melbourne artists are turning this on its head. Over three years, six artists have been painting portraits of six young homeless people and the results are inspiring. To say the project was ambitious is an understatement. Seeing what has been achieved by both the artists and six young people from Melbourne Citymission is truly inspirational.

Joseph Attard is one the artists and describes how seeing the subjects self esteem lifted so tremendously and to such an extent that they are now moving on with their lives is so rewarding. Cristel, who is one of the sitters is now speaking to year nine students about homelessness. On a more personal level Joseph believes he now has a much deeper understanding of what homelessness really means. ‘It’s not being without a home. It’s being without a family, that’s the part that really hurts’.

streetwise Streetwise by Helen Frances Edwards

Terrianne Murray recounts that the process has opened a new door for her: ‘I was looking for an opportunity to evolve and become more committed to humanity. This project was the key for me.’ She also believes that she has learnt how to better deal with the day to day demands of life, saying, ‘I have learnt to let go of things that I felt were important, which are not. I learnt to be more generous in my thoughts of other people; more open minded’.

Pesistence-Pays-Off Persistence Pays Off by Terrianne Murray

Terrianne’s approach to her craft has also changed as part of her journey. ‘It’s prompted me to want to want to tell more of a story. I want to be able to show that there is more beneath the external. I came into the project knowing nothing about homelessness and people who were disadvantaged in this way, so it was a bit daunting initially. I was apprehensive about what I was going to learn about myself and the sitters, maybe I won’t like what I learn...but it wasn’t scary at all. I learnt to understand the different reasons for why people become homeless, it was amazing. A lot of what they need is just someone being there for them. They are just like me, but for so many reasons weren’t as lucky as me when they were born’.

Some thoughts from the sitters:

David
‘I often seemed to be looking from a distance – there, but not there... invisible. I have been encouraged by the artists taking an interest in me and treating me like an ordinary person. It means a lot to me’.

Cristel
‘Try changing that ‘something’ into ‘someone’ and see more into the picture lying underneath’. Melissa ‘I have learned a lot through this process. The thing that sticks out to me the most is how, if you really work for something hard enough, even if it’s just trying to get a message out to people, that sometimes things really do fall into place and it all ends up worth it in the end’.

Eric
‘Being treated with dignity and respect, despite not feeling like you deserve it made a world of difference’.

Russell
‘This has been one of the greatest opportunities I have ever had the chance to participate in. I have grown with every session/day/month and year that has gone by and I have been completely blown away by the artist’s and their compassion. I have cherished every moment with everyone involved and absolutely one hundred percent proud of the final results’.

Steven
‘Over the latter part of my journey I have built relationships with each of the most understanding artists I could have ever hoped to meet. With understanding and care, they have articulated my personal issues truthfully onto canvas, building connections with who I really am.

Regina-Hona_-The-Outside-Wo The Outside World by Regina Hona

A-Heavy-Load--Raelene_Sharp A Heavy Load by Raelene Sharp

The Detour: Portraits From A Hard Road exhibition is on now at the Dog's Bar in St Kilda and runs until January 29 2012.

The 2012 calendar of the artworks is now available at all Readings shops and online for $24.95, with all profits returning to Melbourne Citymission.