Residents of A Better Tent City (ABTC) created glass lanterns through a therapy program that show what it’s like living inside a tiny home, and the art is up for sale.
It’s part of Beyond the Threshold, a national exhibition that can be viewed until early next year. The goal was to depict the reality of homelessness, as shown by those who lived through it. A group out of the tiny home community in Waterloo Region, called Tiny City Makers, worked together to create 20 fused-glass lanterns.
The Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery in Waterloo partnered with the Tiny City Makers, which was formed last year. The lanterns can be purchased in a silent auction, which launched this week and is running until Monday, Dec. 15 at 9 p.m. Anyone can bid on one of the art pieces seen during a visit to the exhibition.
The lanterns will be handed out when the exhibit closes in January. Until then, people are welcome to come to the exhibit to view the work created by those living at ABTC, where more works of art will also be on display, such as glass ornaments and holiday cards.
Last year, when the program launched, the coordinators told CityNews it was positively received.
“Folks can access trauma-free and legal income, make something beautiful, have that creative outlet, and learn a new skill,” Zoe Miller, Community Development Lead, The Community Company, previously said.
“The goal is that this is a sustainable program, that’s the outcome or goal of our social enterprise. It’s not necessarily to generate revenue for ABTC, but it’s to self-sustain.”
All of the proceeds go towards ABTC and its art programming, like Tiny City Makers. They also have an online store available to shop for the holidays.