The Four Faces Project

[Patricia Hine-Stewart]

The Faces of Minimum Wage

The greed of gain has no time or limit to its capaciousness. Its one object is to produce and consume. It has pity neither for beautiful nature nor for living human beings. It is ruthlessly ready without a moment’s hesitation to crush beauty and life out of them, molding them into money.
~Rabindranath Tagore

In preparing for this project, I was going to present a series of collages with some sparkling, vintage images and be content. I then changed my mind. I could not concentrate on the instant beauty I have become accustomed to making. I have become weary, I have become scared, and I have become concerned with the spiraling affect of our economy.

I call this endeavor the ‘New Faces of Minimum Wage’. I have chosen to use the digital camera as my medium. The photos are taken within the apartment complex where I reside. My current job is the apartment manager of two small complexes. In the past two years I have been exposed to extreme changes within this tiny place I call home. There is a kind of urgency in the air; one can actually smell the fear of the tenants. The renters find it difficult to pay rent and hardly can be on time. Utility bills often equal the rent. Food each week is hard to come by. Owning a car has become drain on the salary of these honest workers, with the price of gasoline (the price of gas has increased each day for the past twelve days).

The photo speaks volumes to my heart. I had helped my sister clean out her storage bin – she also is trying to economize. For the helping hand I was able to bring home discarded pieces of furniture and give it to those in need. One of the tenants took the set of mattresses, which were in really good shape. Later that same day he brought (the photo) this mattress to the dumpster. I was awe struck and tears stung my eyes.

As I work on this project I am hoping I can find ways to help others and not just write about the problems. I care deeply for others who struggle. This is no longer about poverty, contained in some large ignored city. This has become about honest hard working people and the new face of those who suffer in silence.

[Dan Goodwin]

Patricia this is a striking choice of project, and a powerful image to start it off.

I admire your boldness and compassion for those less fortunate, it's a potent reminder for those us who have more "comfortable" lives. I wish you well for the project and for finding ways to help others as you've stated you're seeking to do...

Dan

[Heidi]

Patricia, I like your take on the faces project, although it is a bleak reality you are witnessing these days.
I do hope you and your community can find creative ways to help each other out!
Heidi

[June Walker]

Poignant writing and photo.

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

Good job, Patricia.

[DJ]

Patricia, If you find any answers to people's needs, please share...Perhaps we can all be made aware of unseen needs in our own communities.