Liz Ciokajlo x Amy-Jo
Amy-Jo’s story
Home isn’t just about having a roof over your head. It’s about being surrounded by the people and places you love. It’s about belonging.
Amy-Jo was ripped away from all these things after being evicted from her home. Her council moved her to a rural area miles away from her friends and support network.
The move has been incredibly emotionally damaging for her – something which has been exacerbated by how dangerous the area is. Every day, she sees fighting, shouting and drug-dealing. Recently, someone smeared excrement over her front door.
In the end, Amy-Jo spoke to one of our advisers who phoned the council and gave a voice to her frustration. After being side-lined for so long, she now hopes to be reunited with the people who matter to her.
Her struggle isn’t over yet, but we’re working hard to give her the safe, familiar home she really needs – instead of the cramped, isolated house she’s been left in.
Liz Ciokajlo’s inspiration
Amy-Jo’s courage and tenacity inspired the directional 3D printed shoe form; the pointed toe cuts through any resistance, in a way taking flight. Amy-Jo’s name is projected out from the shoe to become the heel.
The prominence of her name is a homage to her bravery, having come through the experience of homelessness. Her name is also a symbol of her power to rebuild her life, a reminder that when life circumstances start to come apart (Like the components of the shoe), Amy-Jo had the strength to pull things together, with Shelter's help, to move forward.
Her story shows homelessness can happen to anyone, and can often be the result of things such as personal illness, caring for a loved one, divorce or redundancy. Losing our home quickly fragments our world, separating families, support systems and communities at a time when we are most in need.
Special thanks should be given to Ravensbourne Research Office for their support in the creation of the shoe.
Visit Shoes Have Names at New Brewery Arts
The exhibition is open from 30th January to 2nd April at New Brewery Arts. It’s free to visit.
Support Shelter charity shops
This exhibition first appeared at a Shelter boutique in London. We wanted to connect shopping, fashion and craft to tell stories of homelessness. Whenever you pre-loved donate clothes, or buy from us you’re helping Shelter fight the housing emergency that is devastating lives.
To donate clothing and items to our charity shops via post, for free, simply download a free postage label. Or you can find your local Shelter charity shop here.
To find out more about Shelter, click on the links below:
Shelter Website: http://england.shelter.org.uk/
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