Robert
“Photos help you actually focus on some of the things you have to change around you. You tend to look for things that are positive in the city, in a world that’s pretty well negative.”
Click each photo or scroll down to read Robert’s story
This photo was intended to look like prison. Every time I walk by, I say, "You're only one step from being behind the wire again.” I could be on this side or that side. I think about going back in all the time. If I do something stupid, I'm going back. I mean, that's just standard. I used to blame everyone about why I went to the pen, but now I take the responsibility for it. I spend a lot of time saying, "Okay, is this worth the time? Is it worth the trip?"
It's not about where I have been, it's about where I want to be. Volunteering makes me feel like I'm doing something positive. Basically, my dad never saw a damn thing that was good in me and I had so much pent up rage and hate. But he never really knew me. There’s a whole different person under there. Volunteering is a chance for my mom to see a side of me she’s never seen before. This picture shows that no matter what you go through, you can always rebuild.
This photo represents resilience to me. My friend comes over now and then and advises me. She points me in the direction of a decision that will do the least harm to myself but leaves it up to me to make the decision. To me, she shows resilience because she adapts well. She earned those lines on her face, they’re lines of wisdom. You learn from your experience and you can pass it on to someone else.
This is the docks where they're building ships to haul out the oil, and they have a refinery there. Now the lighting looks like musical notes so I titled it "Not Everybody's Tune." It sings songs of profit for the oil industry and the shipping industry. It also sings songs of sorrow, for the nations that it knocks out of the way and the wildlife it takes out of the green space and kills off.
I call this "Affections." She is just a lovely dog. You can tell the dog is loving it, she's eating it up. That picture is one of my favorites because, through all the crap, there's real warmth.
This is a bulletin board for missing and murdered Indigenous women. I thought it was something that should be shown, because in this area of the country, in this part of the city it's a big issue all the time. We have got to keep in touch with what's happening because people are going missing constantly.
I call this “Unfinished Work.” Even if you only got some of it done, you’ve still accomplished something. My dad always said if you’re going to fall, fall flat on your face because at least you’re moving forward. Nothing is going to go 100% the way you want it to, but you’re at least heading in the right direction. Learn to appreciate the small things.