After Supper: Visions of My Life 2009

"David, meet my friend-- David."

"Recalling that meeting in early June 2001 at the first 'After Supper: Visions of My Life' photo show proved there could be a common ground where David, a millionaire from the North Shore, could speak comfortably with David, a homeless person who shuns shelters and bunks all night on Chicago's el trains,” says Rev. Wayne Watts, associate administrator of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago and a founder of the unique program.

Father Watts speaks glowingly of the weekly Tuesday Night Suppers for some 130 guests in St. Vincent Hall at Catholic Charities, 721 North LaSalle Street, which combines food for the body with food for the soul.

"But this is a spiritual experience of a very different sort,” Father Watts explains.

"We provide many homeless people, who are our supper guests, with inexpensive disposable cameras and encourage them to capture meaningful moments of their lives and beautiful scenes of the city. From September to June these artists share their work with all of us and then on one night, we transform the St. Vincent Hall dining room into a first class gallery where the artists display and sell their work,” he says.

This year's exhibition was held on Friday, June 19 from 5-8 p.m. Guests sold a total of 119 prints to those who attended this year's exhibit.

"This is my vision of heaven,” Father Watts explains. "We're all here on an equal plain—young and old. Well dressed volunteers sit side by side with people who bear the burden of being homeless or hungry. Our common bond is an opportunity to share a meal and a vision of our lives. The Catholic Charities supper guests are inspired by this program, for it's a real opportunity to create something beautiful out of their own world, which is often not too pleasant,” Father Watts says.

"Our artists truly express themselves and give us a glimpse into their world and insight into their mind and spirit,” Father Watts notes.

"Some of our Vision photographers make enough money through the sale of their photos to place a deposit on a room or a small apartment and establish themselves off the streets and out of the shelters,” Father Watts explains.

Jody O'Connor, a volunteer from Wilmette, herself an accomplished photographer, explains that some 42 artists will participate in this year's exhibition. First-time participants will display three of their photos. Photographers who've been in previous shows will mount four of their best pictures, she says.

"'After Supper: Visions of My Life' begins each September. We outline the project and encourage our weekly supper guests to sign up. Then, we conduct a simple, one-hour, hands-on seminar to explain the basic principles of photography and the types of pictures we hope to see.

"In good weather, when it's light, we walk the Near North neighborhood to spot natural photo opportunities,” she explains. "We provide our artists with disposable cameras loaded with black and white or color film, whichever they prefer.”

Ruben Cantu, 22, who will graduate in June from Columbia College with a Master of Fine Arts degree, joins Jody as a volunteer coach. He also photographs the artists.

"Shooting portraits of the ‘Visions' program artists, which we'll mount in each photographer's display area at the June gallery show, is very satisfying. These large black and white portraits help me view these fine people in a new light that I don't see from my comfortable little apartment in Lincoln Park,” he says.

Ruben can be found at www.rubenwashere.com

Another volunteer, Maureen Kelley Fitzgibbons of Hinsdale, works with vendors who develop the initial films into 4 x 6 index photos.

"For weeks the photographers, in collaboration with other Tuesday Night Supper guests, volunteers and staff pore over their portfolio to winnow their selections down to the three or four prints that they'll display in the June show,” says Fitzgibbons.

"In the final weeks of spring, when the artists have finalized their selections, we order 8 x 10 prints and then a team of volunteers mat and frame them and put up the show,” she explains. Elk Grove Graphics and Fifth Third Bank have been show sponsors in previous years and are continuing to help this year.

"This is a spectacular experience. We're feeding these homeless people's souls as well as their bodies at these Tuesday Night Suppers, but also they're able to express themselves through photography in a way that they could never do verbally,” Fitzgibbons says.

"It's a whole process of involvement that opens up a window into the world of homeless and hungry people who are all around us in a city as large as Chicago,” notes Fitzgibbons.

Joseph Trimarco, 57, a California native who is a graduate of Oak Park-River Forest High School and holds a degree from Roosevelt University, lives by his wits traveling between Chicago and Minneapolis.

"I walk a lot, all over Chicago. I see life in so many different views. And I try to capture them. Early morning, sunset, even night shots of the city are just brilliant,” he says.

Joseph becomes very animated when he says, "Walk east along Roosevelt Road at Clark Street, near the new Target, and just look at the skyline. It's completely different there than the traditional lakefront views of this city.”

A favorite view of Joseph's is the lower level of the iconic Lake Shore Drive double-deck bridge that spans the Chicago River just south of Navy Pier.

"To be a good photographer, you have to think outside of yourself. Think outside your existence,” Joseph explains.

Nathan Truitt, 81, notes, "I've never taken pictures before in my whole life; it's a whole new world for me.”

Kenneth Knight, 52, a native of Gulfport, Mississippi, likes to walk the Chicago River neighborhood and his photos reflect the seasons. He proudly shows pictures of ice floes in the river floating under the Clark Street Bridge as examples of his best work.

"I'm focused on nature because it helps me see the beautiful side of life,” he comments.

Knight spends his nights at the Pacific Garden Mission west of the Loop and attends Malcolm X College four hours a day, four days a week, where he's working on a degree. After graduation, he hopes to return to North Carolina where he has family.

Ray Bauzys, 52, a former Lower Wacker Drive resident who now lives in the Lawson YMCA, carefully reviews each of his photos. His work is a virtual architectural tour of the city's skyline. Lincoln Park, Lake Shore Drive, Oak Street Beach, shots of Navy Pier from Olive Park, and scenes of the city are his favorites.

"Dawn is the best time of day. I come from a farm family and that's the quiet time, when you can think and enjoy life,” he says.

Barry Gold has assembled an impressive portfolio of colorful abstract pieces. Though unwilling to share some of his innovative photographic techniques for fear that others might emulate them, he's generous with his praise for the work of all his fellow artists.

Gold is a Lawson YMCA resident who knows most of Chicago's neighborhoods and roams them all year long.

Lori Tanner is a regular guest at the suppers who lives in the Edgewater neighborhood. One of her memorable shots is of a classical stone statue mounted on the Elks headquarters building exterior at Diversey Avenue and Sheridan Road.

"The Tuesday Night Suppers are one of 162 separate programs that Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago operates in Cook and Lake Counties. Annually, we serve more than 1 million persons at all stages of life—children, parents, seniors, veterans, the hungry and homeless, and those who need emergency food, clothing or shelter. Because our goal is to help people become self-sufficient, our programs are designed to improve lives and to restore human dignity,” Father Watts explained.

"Catholic Charities' Suppers are catered pro bono by some of the city's finest restaurants—Keefers, Rosebud, Tavern at the Park, The Kerryman, 312 and others," explains Michael E. McDonnell, director of volunteer relations. "We also have generous corporate and family sponsors who provide a stipend each week for supplies and facility costs. And rotating teams of 15-30 volunteers serve the meals and help us clean up,” he says.