American · 1949–
Donna Ferrato
- 43in the catalog
- 0on view now
- 2collections
- 1country
It's 3:00 a.m. No way to sleep. Imaginary bedbugs chewing at me. The air is oppressive, like being buried alive. The cries of asthmatic children sniffling, screaming, sleep-talking keeps me on edge. In semi-darkness I wander among the beds, seeing mothers wrapped around their babies, like bears in hibernation. In one lower bunk, I find an exhausted mother, Pam, rocking her wailing week-old daughter. Pams face glows with inner peace. She is one of the lucky ones. She escaped an abusive relationship and found shelter here. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
1999 · Not on view · National Gallery of Art
At 5:45 a.m.Tuesday morning, Margie sprints out of bed to wash and dress herself for her second day of job training at CARA in downtown Chicago. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
1999 · Not on view · National Gallery of Art
7:00 A.M.: Margie rides the train to her job-training class in downtown Chicago. Accompanying her is Cherilyn, a resident at the Olive Branch who recently found a job as a home-care worker.
1999 · Not on view · National Gallery of Art
A young woman holds her baby brother high. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
1999 · Not on view · National Gallery of Art
All the other mothers loved Margie, who gave kids free professional haircuts every night. Hopefully, with luck and hard work, her positive attitude will take her far up and away from homelessness. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
1999 · Not on view · National Gallery of Art
In the CARA job-training program, Margie is hungry for knowledge and eager to participate in her studies. She takes copious notes and never hesitates to ask questions. I can see her sense of self-worth returning. I was lucky to meet Margie at a time when she was ready to take control over her life. I spent time riding with her to CARA, and met many people in the same situation. I realize now that being homeless is nothing like the fantasy sleeping on the street, wearing shabby clothes, begging for money. The homeless people I met looked just like me.
1999 · Not on view · National Gallery of Art
Margie's son, Jamont, 9, watches from his perch on a bunk bed as his mother chooses a dress for her job-training class. In the United States an alarming number of children are homeless. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
1999 · Not on view · National Gallery of Art
The Olive Branch is a dark, oppressive space, but it gets the message across to the women who stay there that the solutions to their problems are in their own hands. Ignoring distractions, Margie finishes her homework for job-training class. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
1999 · Not on view · National Gallery of Art
I rarely saw kids in the shelter play. Shelter life is a serious game. This baby waits anxiously for his mama to take him to bed. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
1999 · Not on view · National Gallery of Art
Sunday morning, Margie demonstrates the love and affection she has for her son, Pierre. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
1999 · Not on view · National Gallery of Art
The bathroom at the mission is dreary at best, with holes in the walls and floor, peeling lead paint, no toilet paper, showers without handles. Mothers nevertheless keep their children scrupulously clean, singing praise to God. Here, Renee cleans her daughters face with plenty of elbow grease. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
1999 · Not on view · National Gallery of Art
Boys in the shelter hug Pierre Garrett after a tearful confrontation with his mother. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
1999 · Not on view · National Gallery of Art
Standing between their bunk beds, Margie admires her four sons: Johnny, 13, Pierre, 11, Jamont, 9, and Johnnell, 11. She always took care of her kids until she fell in love with a drug addict and became addicted herself. Her children's world fell apart and they became homeless residents at the mission. Olive Branch Mission, Chicago.
1999 · Not on view · National Gallery of Art
James, the Bug Whisperer
2012 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
James, the Bug Whisperer
2012 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Sarah and the Boys under the Bridge
2012 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Sarah Augusta
2012 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Sarah Augusta, 26, Finally Free from Abuse
2012 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Sarah and Taylor
2013 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Sarah
2013 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Sarah and Taylor
2013 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Sarah Augusta Learning Self Defense
2013 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Sarah With Her Family Attend the “Meet Us at the Bridge” Ceremony
2013 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Taylor and James in the Front Yard
2013 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Taylor
2013 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Sarah
2013 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Sarah and Tommy
2014 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Tommy and James
2014 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Sarah
2014 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Target Pratice with a Pellet Gun
2014 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Sarah after a Court Hearing
2014 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Zoe
2014 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Zoe and the Free Range Chicken
2014 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Tommy and Sarah
2014 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Taylor and Zoe
2014 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Tommy, James and Taylor
2014 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
James and Taylor
2014 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Sarah and Her Mother
2014 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Zoe
2014 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Sarah, James and Taylor
2014 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Sarah and a member of B.A.C.A. discussing a strategy to protect the boys
2014 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Tommy and Sarah in the Kitchen
2014 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum
Sarah and Tommy
2014 · Not on view · J. Paul Getty Museum