This is one of Path With Arts classes happening now at Seattle Art Museum. Classes and rehearsals will continue to be held at various locations across the city but theyll also happen at Path With Arts new home, formerly the gallery of The New Foundation, in Pioneer Square.
This is one of Path With Art's classes happening now at Seattle Art Museum. Classes and rehearsals will continue to be held at various locations across the city but they'll also happen at Path With Art's new home, formerly the gallery of The New Foundation, in Pioneer Square. Courtesy of Path With Art

When The New Foundation Seattle suddenly announced its gallery was closing in the middle of a year of programming called Housing Is A Human Right because its patron/founder was having a hard time personally, it was impossible not to grieve that the other people having a hard time—the homeless people the programming had been designed to help—were still out there, still in need.

Founder Shari Behnke, who was unavailable to talk by phone but put out an announcement, has now said she'll continue the spirit of Housing Is A Human Right in a new way, by helping to support Path With Art, another group that serves adults experiencing and recovering from homelessness, addiction, and trauma.

Path With Art, as of June 15, will move into the old New Foundation gallery space at 312 Second Ave. S. in Pioneer Square.

Path With Art will take over The New Foundation's lease through September 2017 in that location, according to Path executive director Holly Jacobson, reached by phone.

Behnke will pay for a little more than half of the cost of rent.

Meanwhile, Path With Art will launch a capital campaign for the permanent space it needs.

Starting this fall, Path will also present in that space art exhibitions and performing arts showcases in addition to hosting classes and events there for students, nearly all of whom have experienced homelessness. Almost a third of Path's students are currently homeless.

To get straight to the question of what you can do directly to support Housing Is A Human Right yourself, here are two action items.

1. Go tomorrow night to hear current and former residents of The Jungle talk about their experiences in an event called Community Talk: The Jungle at Seattle Public Library. Doors open at 6:30.

If you can't attend, consider following the conversation as it unfolds. I'm Live Tweeting it @JenGraves. Hashtags to search are #TheJungle and #socjustSPL, or check the accounts of @SPL Buzz, @KUOW, and @RealChangeNews.

2. Attend Path With Art's panel discussion "The Role of the Arts in Civic Problem Solving" at V2 a week from today.

One of Path With Art's students is on the panel, and so are City Councilwoman Lisa Herbold, leading artists Barbara Earl Thomas and Joshua Kohl (Degenerate Art Ensemble), and City of Seattle arts director Randy Engstrom.

Yes, everyone involved already knows that panel discussions do not provide housing and solve problems directly.

If you believe that and use it as a reason not to attend or tune in, then please consider refocusing on what you are doing rather than what you won't.

A little more news: Martha Rosler's important three-part exhibition that was cut short in Seattle with the closing of The New Foundation will find culmination in New York this month.

If You Can't Afford to Live Here, Mo-o-ove! opens June 7 at Mitchell-Innes & Nash gallery, in New York, where it hasn't been seen since it originated there in 1989. Good news for New York.

Here's an interview with Rosler, a recording of what happened when Rosler spoke at Seattle Public Library, and a relevant bit.