DALLAS ― Willie Baronet bought his art collection one piece at a time—from homeless people throughout the country.
Each piece is made of cardboard or paper scraps. They’re covered in black marker and misspelled scrawls. They’re battered by wind and stained by sweat.
Baronet, 54, an advertising professor at Southern Methodist University, purchased hundreds of signs used by panhandlers to ask for food and money. Initially, he was fascinated by the texture, materials and messages. He became drawn to the stories of those who created them.
“Need Food / Please Help”
“Pregnant homeless & hungry”
“Dreaming of a Cheeseburger”
“Ex-wife had a better lawyer”
