The Bright Eyes Projectstarted with the simple idea of having homeless photographers capture what it's like to live on the streets of Tucson.
The photography started in January of this year, and now, The Bright Eyes Project is giving you the first chance to see what several volunteer homeless photographers experience everyday.
Sylvia Sander started by asking two men to take pictures of what they see, and the photos she got back not only inspired her, but she said it has helped some of the homeless photographers find a sense of purpose and a drive to get off the streets.
"I wish other people would not be afraid and understand that the people living on the streets are people also," said Sander. "Some of them choose it and some of them don't but that doesn't give any of us the right to treat them any differently, so yes this has probably changed my life.
She said this project is also about getting the public to find compassion and understanding towards the homeless in our city and what they experience day to day.
She says she hopes people will come to the show this Sunday to hear the stories behind the photos.
"To the rest of the world, it just looks like somebody looking up at trees, but little do they know that the man that took this photo is in a sleeping bag on the ground underneath these trees," said Sander. "This is where he lives. This is what he wakes up to every morning."
All of the money raised in this weekend's show will go directly back to the homeless artists for the work they have done.
The bright eyes project is also partnering with other local non-profits to hopefully expand the program and help more people on the street find purpose through art.
If you'd like to go see the show this weekend, it is happening Sunday July 10, 2016 from 6-10pm at the Monterey Court Studio Galleries and café located at 505 W Miracle Mile.
