Help Don Hang His First Art Show

Don Haden is a 50 year old outsider artist and an air force veteran who has been living in the homeless community of Springfield, Missouri since the pandemic hit. When we say that Don Haden is an “outsider artist” we mean this in the most pure sense. Don lives outside of popular conceptions about what it is to be human and rejects the popular “American Dream” narrative. He documents what he sees in the world and in those around him. Don’s art serves as both document and testament to the experiences and hardships of living in homelessness through this pandemic.

About 9 years ago Don went through an incredibly traumatic life event that led him to go off the grid and live for over a year in the Mark Twain forest system. During this period he went through a radical spiritual transformation that is reflected in his art and his interactions in the community. Don started making visual art with unconventional mediums (such as found nail polish on a repurposed backgammon board case) about 4 months ago for the first time in his life. To paraphrase Don, "When I started I wasn't very good but I'm a firm believer that if you do something a thousand times you'll eventually get it right". Don said that when he was in the shackles of the day-in, day-out; chained to the time clock, he didn't have any kind of inspiration to put towards creativity. While life has been hard during the pandemic, he's glad for a renewed perspective and we're all better off for the seemingly endless spurt of art that has resulted!

SWMO Solidarity Network has the privilege of helping Don set up his first art show, to be held at BookMarx during the month of August. Don has many fantastic pieces to share and we'd like to supply the frames to properly showcase his work. We deeply appreciate the ongoing generosity of our community.