SEEING PAST THE SIDEWALK.
We are experts at the averted gaze. We see the corner and the situation, but we rarely see the person. The Third Mercy Project is an exercise in recognition.
I document our neighbors experiencing homelessness through charcoal and chalk. Every subject is paid for their time, and 50% of all proceeds support housing outreach in Bradenton.
These are not just symbols of a crisis. They are the faces of our community.
THE WORK OF RECOGNITION.
The Third Mercy Project is rooted in the parable of the Good Samaritan—a story about three men who encountered a neighbor in crisis. Two chose the "averted gaze." The third chose to stop.
In Bradenton, we often find ourselves in that same rhythm: seeing the situation on the corner, but failing to see the person. I document our neighbors experiencing homelessness through charcoal and chalk to ensure they are seen, not just walked past.
THE CASE FOR THE HUMAN HAND.
In an era of infinite, synthetic imagery, the Third Mercy Project is a deliberate pivot toward the tactile. This work is a professional commitment to the act of observation over the ease of automation. Through the traditional disciplines of charcoal and contemporary realism, I record the people of Bradenton who are often overlooked, creating a permanent, physical record that digital reach cannot replicate.
