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AmieSell August 3-24

Kitchen Space

It is the intangibles that make a home and community. �e memories, shared emotions, feelings of security, sanctuary and safety. �e laughs, the cries, building of trust, the forming of relationships with respect, love and sharing. Tolerance, acceptance and ability to ask for help. Comfort, familiarity and dependability all ease the stress of uncertainty. Discord shakes these intangibles and makes them seem out of our reach, or maybe that we are undeserv-ing of them. �is discord is pervasive in our culture that focuses on capital gain at the expense of others discomfort. �is discord is happening right now for many in our community, Logan Square, as their homes are disrupted and the community is gentri�ed without input from its residents. For the last 6 months, I've become heavily involved in organizing around the issue of a�ordable housing that is disappearing from our neighborhood, Logan Square. I've met people who have been part of mass evictions from their homes, seen rents skyrocket and the demographics shift dramatically in certain areas. �is deeply concerns me and leaves me with a heavy feeling of loss, but hopeful that action can be takento slow this process.

On June 27th, 2014, this artwork was removed from the Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival (MAAF) by Mark Fishman, a board member, co-founder and landlord of I Am Logan Square, the sponsor/host MAAF. He is the developer that evicted people from the buildings pictured in the panels. Yes, my pieces in the installation called him out directly as a person who displaces people and I knew that he was somehow involved with I Am Logan Square, but I did not realize he was a board member and made the �nal curatorial decisions about the festival until after my work was removed. �ank you to Kitchen Space and too-many-to-name individuals that have reached out to me and want to create positive dialog and action about our changing neighborhood.

A. (2) 60” x 80” Panels Digital architectural photos printed on �eece blankets

B. (1) 41" x 19" x 17.5" Chair Found object with cross-stich

Art included in this iteration of the installation:

Facts About A�ordable Housing:

A�ordable Housing is de�ned bythe Federal Government as: ‘paying 30% or less of a household’s income toward housing per month’

If you pay more than 30%, you are considered: ‘Housing Burdened’

A 34.8% 'a�ordability gap' exists in Logan Square and West Town. �is means the demand for a�ordable housing is not being met by the supply.

2013 Rental Averages in LSQ Studio: $800 1BR: $950 2BR: $1,475 3BR: $1,875