Kristen Erickson: Community in Blue

Community in Blue aims to shed light on the severity of our homeless issue and to support efforts to facilitate change. On June 29th, 2016 a Homeless Count documented 689 homeless people living on the streets of Pomona, California. According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, one in three homeless people in LA County are women. From 2013-16, the county saw a 55% increase in homeless women, making them the fastest-growing group within the homeless population. These women are more vulnerable to traumatic violence including rape while sleeping on the streets and in mixed gender shelters.

Community in Blue is a quantitative diagram illustrating Pomona’s homeless. Each of the 231 ceramic bottle forms symbolizes approximately three individuals. The blue vessels represent the men and the blue and white vessels represent the women. Together on a yellow field, these colors signify Pomona’s city flag.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.