People can view an art wall featuring work from previously and currently unhoused community members in an exhibition called “Unsettled Lawrence” at the Watkins Museum of History.
The full exhibition features the work of Rachel Schwaller, a lecturer in the Department of History at the University of Kansas, exploring how unhoused and encamped people through Lawrence’s history have fostered diverse communities.
“While the city takes this issue seriously, it continues to implement policies that do not take the history of this issue or the everyday lives of people into consideration,” Schwaller said in a KU news release.
“Unsettled Lawrence” also aims to confront stereotypes of unhoused people.
“Some of the biggest misconceptions are that unhoused community members are inherently more immoral, they are more addicted to substances than people who are housed, and housing is under people’s personal control — meaning that if someone wanted to be housed, they could be if they made different choices in their lives,” Schwaller said. “The systematic issues are not often considered.”
The exhibit, featuring oral history, art and documentary photography, is co-created by Molly Adams. Adams earned her master’s degree in Indigenous studies at KU and previously worked as a photo editor with The Lawrence Times.
“Unsettled Lawrence” will additionally feature iPad kiosks with digital maps of Lawrence’s East Bottoms and story maps of notable figures. Schwaller noted that, in many cases, current camps live where historical encampments were once located.
“Dr. Schwaller’s blend of historical research and contemporary relationship-building with unhoused and encamped people is unique and offers visitors a chance to learn and reflect about this important topic,” Andrew Stockmann, the museum’s curator of exhibitions, said in a release.
“Unsettled Lawrence” will be open from Friday, Aug. 7 through Saturday, Feb. 6 in the Watkins’ third floor changing exhibit gallery, 1047 Massachusetts St.
The museum is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
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