Occupy Wall Street, Faces Of Zuccotti Park: The Homeless Artist (VIDEO)

This is the third in a series of profiles focusing on the protesters of Occupy Wall Street.

Sleeping on the street or in illegal squats has become a way of life in recent years for James, a 40-year-old silversmith. Friends persuaded him to leave New York and start a business in Arizona a few years back, but things didn’t work out the way he had hoped.

"I heard there was a lot of cheap silver, but going out there, I actually ended up homeless," James says.

Since returning to Manhattan, he’s found comfort in the community of Zuccotti Park. Like James, many of the city’s homeless have come to seek refuge here, where free food is offered three times a day and extra blankets and warm clothes are readily available. "If this wasn’t going on, most of these people who are really homeless would be on the west side by the water," he says, "living under a bench."

Watch the video above to hear more of James’ story.

 

 

Comments

[kkdkdkdkdk]

03:54 AM on 11/10/2011

Get a job, any job. You're young, able bodied. You don't have to be homeless.

[Jon Stein]

04:35 AM on 11/10/2011

so as an america, ... we should not be free? ... we should do what we're told alah communism?

[kkdkdkdkdk]

02:12 PM on 11/10/2011

We should work and stop whining.

[kkdkdkdkdk]

11:51 AM on 11/11/2011

Don't get your point Jon.

[Ppossom]

04:41 AM on 11/12/2011

Try "Down and Out in Paris and London" by George Orwell, an author much favored (for imaginary reasons) by right wing ideologues.

Even better, just read anything by Henry Miller, the best American writer of his time. "Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch" would be a good choice for right wingers.

[MrGovtCheese]

03:20 AM on 11/10/2011

"Like James, many of the city’s homeless have come to seek refuge here, where free food is offered three times a day and extra blankets and warm clothes are readily available."

For that alone the movement is a success in my opinion.

[Ppossom]

04:41 AM on 11/12/2011

Bravo!

[anniespets5]

02:43 AM on 11/10/2011

I am an artist/jewelry designer/blogger,writer. I mostly make,sell the jewelry although hav e sold some paintings as cards. have sold to shops and as a vendor at fairs,etc. Sadly since live rural can't get to places can sell at and noone will drive me,even those I know. So am trying to find a place elsewhere but have pets. I have disabilities so live on disability. The income make off selling the jewelry offsets my benefits. Sadly since live in an area in upstate NY that is really struggling financially(can't make much money here if any so am living in poverty),many jobless,many because lack the skills,education,good work ethic and have mental,drug,alcohol problems,etc. Poor transportation to job opportunities too. The ones with jobs don't associate with the poor. They don't make much but enough to drive cars,own homes. Many of them are struggling too. I received a shut off notice for my electric recently. last month it was shut off temporarily. Still owe from last year's heat. Today social services says to me don't count on the HEAP being there after the $500 check. That clearly isn't enough for the hole winter. Verizon threatened to cut off my phone so I scraped up some money today to pay half. My propane for cooking and hot water is running low. Will scrape through the month.

[sirjose]

11:37 PM on 11/09/2011

Gee, who can we blame for the misfortunes of James? The banks, the corporations, the top 1%, the wealthy? Gee, is it possible that the problem started with James' parents and then James himself? Nah, someone else MUST be responsible.

[denny8844]

12:02 AM on 11/10/2011

How else can you have a culture of victimization. It is really tough taking a hard look at yourself when it is so much easier to look at everyone else for the fault.

[MirageRF]

12:14 AM on 11/10/2011

James says he chose to be an artist. He knew it required sacrifice.
He admits homelessness is the price he's paid for the path he chose.

But there are others who are victims too....................

[sirjose]

12:20 AM on 11/10/2011

Yes , there are some victims, but in many cases the so called victim is mostly a victim of either their own personal choices or the choices their parents made for them. I tend to put many of the problems squarely pointing at the parents.

[ennui the third]

10:58 PM on 11/09/2011

More and more I am seeing how the media is portraying the participants in this protest.....is it me, or is it beginning to look like a fashion shoot?

[shakesome]

12:12 AM on 11/10/2011

Homeless fashion! It's the new followup to heroin chic (also found in OWS).

[MirageRF]

12:14 AM on 11/10/2011

I'm sorry to say, "It's you."
However, I don't judge these folks by their choice of attire but by their sacrifice for their beliefs.
That's a show of character.