A photography show at Carl Cherry Center focuses on the worth and dignity of homeless men.

The Carl Cherry Center hosts an art show of Bob Sadler's lustrous photographs of homeless men from Shelter Outreach Plus' former I-HELP program, instigated by his church, the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Monterey Peninsula. 

"Every month guys came to get a meal [at the church] but not a member of the congregation [knew] who they were," Sadler says. "The pastor asked me, 'See if you can make these men come alive for the congregation.'"

He began asking the men if he could take their portraiture pictures. About 60 men allowed it. The congregation responded to the pictures, donating $1,000 to I-HELP. One of the congregants was Barbara Bullock Wilson, daughter of famed photographer Wynn Bullock. She encouraged Sadler, who did not consider himself a portrait photographer, to show the work to others.

"No one takes pictures of homeless men to look like famous people," she told him.

Sadler says the photos—black and white, dignified, warm and human—boosted the homeless men's self-esteem. It was having a profound effect on Sadler, too.

"It was a major breakthrough for me," he says. "It was such a rewarding thing. I'll do this the rest of my life."

Not only was Sadler able to use his artistry, but he's spreading awareness of homelessness, and with homeless services needing funding and support and volunteers. 

"Shelter Outreach stopped operating the [I-HELP] program last March when the federal money dried up," Sadler says. "The faith-based organizations filled the gap by forming a 501-c-3 non profit organization called Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program."

There are more dimensions to the show, called Inherent Worth and Dignity. There are 23 photographs. Videographer (and Monterey city council candidate) Timothy Barett filmed footage of the men talking about themselves and their lives, while Cassidy Hausmann Mason wrote narratives about them to accompany the photographs. There is a book. All will be on display at the opening reception this Friday at Carl Cherry Center, 5-7pm. Some of the homeless men in the photographs will be there. The next day, Saturday, at 4pm, there will be a slideshow, lecture and book-signing with Sadler, Hausmann and Barrett.

"The idea of the exhibit is to explore the human worth and dignity of homeless men in Monterey County," Sadler says. "The [men] gave us the best of themselves in a world where that feels like a vulnerable and even dangerous thing to do. But, as we get close to opening, the men are very excited and so are we. I think people will be blown away by the power of this show."