KC’s homeless tell their stories through art

They’ve lived parts of their lives caught in the clutches of homelessness and drug addiction, but they’re through with all that now.

Men who participate in a residential program at the Kansas City Rescue Mission have teamed up with artist Richard Fritz of Storytellers Inc. to create a series of photo-collage panels that represent the journey of the homeless from hopelessness to recovery.

Each picture — from burned-out campfires to train yards and graffiti-covered bricks — forms a part of the larger journey each man has undertaken. It’s powerful stuff. In this video, then men discuss their project and their lives:

Works in Progress: the art of the homeless from casey lyons on Vimeo.

The show opens tonight at the Kansas City Rescue Mission, 1520 Cherry St., from 7 to 10 p.m. The artists will be on hand to chat and answer questions. If you’re heading out to First Friday in the Crossroads, add this to your stops.