Freddie's Story

 

His name was Freddie J. Harris. He was a kind and gentle spirit. And he was a passionate, brilliant Detroit artist, self-trained in every imaginable way.

 

Freddie grew up poor on Detroit's east side. Despite his troubled childhood, Freddie discovered very early on his lifelong passion for drawing. This gift, and his ability to retreat into his own imagination, gave him strength to survive and overcome 20 years of homelessness, depression, and severe medical problems.  

 

In 2008, a staff member at Southwest Solutions who was on his way to work discovered Freddie, alone near an abandoned building, sketching in his spiral notebook with a simple ballpoint pen. But his drawings were far from simple: his drawings were intricate, mysterious, beautiful. And after months of encouraging Freddie to seek help and medical support, Freddie got keys to his new future. The day before Thanksgiving that year, Freddie opened the door to his own place at the Whitdel Apartments in Southwest Detroit. 

 

The transition into permanent housing was a long road and one full of private challenges for Freddie. While this may not seem natural to some; those who have been chronically homeless while suffering from medical and mental illness understand that what is ordinary and simple to most people can be deeply difficult. But through it all, Freddie continued his relentless pursuit of creating original art - everything from portrait to abstract to mechanical to landscape. Art wasn't just Freddie's tool for surviving; art was his tool for living.   

 

In October 2013, Freddie took a major step and spoke publically about his life's journey and his art at the Solutions at Sunrise  event in front of a thousand inspired attendees. After this event, Freddie began to experience a type of pride and hope that many of his friends and supporters had not recognized in him before. Freddie was ready to share his art with the world, and this website was just one of many beginnings Freddie envisioned for himself.

 

In the mind's eye of an artist, his greatest work is never complete. The same can be said about Freddie J. Harris' life. On the evening of January 14, 2014 at the age of 51, Freddie passed away in his apartment. He had been sitting where he was most comfortable - on the milk crates where he drew.

 

We as his friends and supporters wil deeply, deeply miss him. But we are grateful for the light that shines on through his art that not only illuminates one man's life, but how we as human beings see, and often times, don't see each other. Freddie's life, and his art, helps us to see each other.   

  

In an interview, Freddie said, "I am taking life step by step. Art saves my life everyday. It is the only way I know to express who I am. I am quiet. My art speaks for me."

 

We can still hear you, Freddie. And through your art - we see.