In August, The Salvation Army in Chilliwack, B.C., partnered with Ruth and Naomi’s Mission, a local Christian agency, to host an art exhibit that featured the talent and gifts of their clients. “Unhoused, Unhidden: A Celebration of Humanity” gave people in the unhoused community an opportunity to showcase their work at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre.

The idea came about when Joshua Draheim, then community partnerships co-ordinator for the Army in Chilliwack, began noticing beautiful sketches and pieces of art in the chaplains’ offices at the Chilliwack Army. When he asked about them, he learned they had been made by clients.

One piece stood out to him—a sketch of Jesus. “It was amazing. Our chaplains told me that the man who created it was in a tough spot, struggling with his mental health and addiction recovery. But he’d been trying to find faith, reading the Bible and working with us every day. He wanted to make this art for us.”

In that moment, Draheim felt a conviction. He had seen someone at the shelter who was struggling and entrenched on the streets, but he didn’t see an artist. “God puts an innate, irreplaceable worth on each soul. It’s easy to lose sight of that and to focus on peoples’ struggles rather than their strengths,” he explains. “But people have incredible talents, gifts, ambitions, hopes and dreams.”

And in looking at the sketch of Jesus, Draheim thought, How can we get people to see this?

“Unhoused, Unhidden” was not a fundraising event, nor was it meant to showcase The Salvation Army’s ministries, rather it was an opportunity to talk about the artists and highlight their unique stories.

In preparation for the exhibit, The Salvation Army offered art sessions for clients at their emergency shelters, run twice a week by a local artist. “It was  something clients found valuable and enjoyable,” says Draheim.

The exhibit featured more than a dozen pieces of art, and each artist could also fill out a form to submit with their art where they could write their name and background on the piece.

“We wanted to create a space where people can experience art and listen deeply to stories that are often unheard,” says Draheim. “Art is healing—for the artist, but also for the people who get to experience the finished product.”

Chilliwack hopes to host this exhibit again next year, showcasing even more stories through art.

“I hope people are reminded that these individuals, in spite of their circumstances, the things they’ve experienced and the things that have been done to them, and the mistakes they’ve made, are human beings, too,” says Draheim. “This exhibit highlights the power of human expression and the power of art, but it also highlights the artists and the people behind the art.”