Gary Fabiano: Artist Statement

prop-er-ty n., 1. ownership 2. something owned 3. a characteristic or attribute

Everyone owns property. It is in our nature to acquire and collect things. We collect property to have a sense of accomplishment, to empower ourselves, or to feel self-worth—sometimes excessively and sometimes out of necessity.

One's personal understanding of property reflects one's own beliefs about what is important enough to obtain. Property is acquired at all levels of society, and wealth does not set the standard for what property is or should be.

When we encounter a member of society who is without a home, we rarely consider what possessions he or she owns. I hope these pictures, taken in the United States, will help the viewer look at people who are homeless differently. Their property, which may be less extravagant than the property of others, is still property. A level of humanness and compassion can be acquired by association and assimilation. We have many of these items in our possession. Everyone owns property.