A former Louvre copyist, Guillemin, who had lived in Newton, achieved a measure of fame in the 1970s for recreating iconic European artworks such as the “Mona Lisa” and “The Creation of Adam,” on Boston’s sidewalks. By utilizing the pavement as his canvas, Guillemin’s goal was to make art accessible to all; he told the Globe in a 1980 interview that he believed art “should be pedestrian” and can be utilized as a way to promote peace.
“[Guillemin] used his artwork to honor and entertain everyone, but specifically the people who lived on the streets,” said John Rosenthal, the founder of FOBH, and a longtime friend of Guillemin, in a statement to the Globe. “He wanted to beautify the streets for them and give them a sense of joy.”
The auction occurs during an uncertain time for nonprofits like FOBH, following the Trump administration’s dramatic cuts to funding allocated to addressing homelessness. The Department of Housing and Urban Development had cut $1 million from its spring budget, which accounts for half of FOBH’s annual budget, said Carrie Coughlin, the executive director of the nonprofit. The organization is also bracing for additional cuts to programs like SNAP, which will directly impact the communities they serve.
“We run on a very tight, lean budget,” Coughlin said. “Anything we can do to make up for those gaps is important to us to continue to serve people.”
Bidding begins at $450, with each piece valued around $3,000, according to Coughlin. The funds raised will support the foundation’s partners, including Boston Public Health Services and Homeless Services, as well as FOBH’s housing startup fund, which helps individuals move into private residences. The program especially focuses on assisting families and pregnant women, who are at the highest risk of experiencing violence in shelters.
Coughlin said she hopes the event will raise both funds and awareness of the organization’s programs. She referenced a quote from Guillemin that had appeared in a 2012 article for BU Today to help illustrate the alignment of the late musician (and Boston University alum) and the organization’s mission: “The musician isn’t involved in just creating beauty. He’s involved in communicating truth and reacting to truth and being concerned about fellow human beings and attempting, through art, to better the condition of humankind.”
THE SIDEWALK SAM HOLIDAY AUCTION
The ‘Quin House, 217 Commonwealth Ave. Nov. 5, 6-9 p.m. Tickets are $125. fobh.org
Isabella Bernstein can be reached at isabella.bernstein@globe.com.
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