Homeless man’s talent rewarded by innner-city gallery

A Melbourne homeless man who took a chance with his art has been given a life-changing boost by an inner-city gallery.

Homeless artist Bill with his work. Picture: Mark Stewart

A homeless man who stuck some of his artwork on the window of an inner city gallery has received a life-changing boost after his talent was recognised.

It took a while for Bill, 50, to pluck up the courage to actually go inside North Melbourne’s pop-up Errol Street Gallery, but the visit was worth it.

Bill with his framed work. Picture: Mark Stewart

Gallery curator Min Simankevicius had kept the drawings left on the window, and was very impressed with a collage artwork that Bill brought in to show.

“There is something wondrous about Bill, he needs to express himself in an artistic way using materials from whatever he comes across, like a plastic spoon or a sticky tape spool,” he said.

“The work is full of tiny detail to the point of manic energy that encapsulates this wonderful world we live in.”

Mr Simankevicius said that when he started framing the piece for exhibiting, Bill nearly cried.

“You could see the emotion coming out of him, it was that giving of respect for somebody who’s had no respect for a long time,” he said.

Bill, who has battled severe addiction issues, was thrilled when the artwork was recently auctioned off at the gallery, whose space is provided by the adjoining Lithuanian community centre.

Bill got some much-needed cash, but more importantly, he won lots of respect.

Bill with Min Simankevicius, curator of the Lithuanian community’s Errol Street Gallery. Picture: Mark Stewart

“That gave me a sense of purpose, I now have more of a vision of myself being at least a semi professional artist,” he said.

“It really inspired me, and I have a lot of respect for Min and what he’s done for me.”

Bill said his art was influenced by “stuff that goes on around me”.

“I capture the mood of people, sometimes I even incorporate text that I’ve heard from a TV show,” he said.

“For me, art is a way of getting rid of my nervous energy — I put it into my artwork.”

Bill’s collage artwork was auctioned off at the Errol Street Gallery. Picture: Mark Stewart

City welfare worker Major Brendan Nottle, who heads Salvation Army’s Project 614 in Bourke Street, said Bill’s story had inspired him to consider opening a pop-up gallery for rough sleepers and the homeless to exhibit in.

“It reminds us that behind the mask of homelessness, often there’s very talented people,” he said.

“We’d like to create an opportunity for their talents to be on show for the public.”

Errol Street Gallery is open daily from 11am-4pm until Sunday July 11.

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