A local photographer has transformed the dining room of Concord's Friendly Kitchen into an art gallery, showcasing intimate portraits of 48 guests who frequent the soup kitchen. Cynthia Tokos, who came to Concord in 2022 as a director at Christ the King parish, spent the last year capturing the faces and stories of people often overlooked by society through her exhibition titled "What I Want You to Know."
Tokos, a photographer with 25 years of experience, organized the gallery opening last Saturday to highlight the dignity and humanity of individuals facing homelessness and food insecurity. "Some of these folks have some great challenges, and I just wanted to show their dignity and their respect," Tokos explained. The exhibition features black-and-white portraits accompanied by personal written statements from each subject.
Among the featured subjects is Michael Tuerk, 31, who posed for his portrait around Christmas while carrying a navy backpack and standing beside a red bicycle. Tuerk, who grew up in the White Mountains and graduated high school in Amherst, traveled across the country as an AmeriCorps member before settling in Concord last summer. "Every day is kind of groundhog day out here," Tuerk reflected, looking at his portrait. "You almost have to wake up with a fresh brain every morning. A clean slate, if you will. It's the only way to get through."
The project captures not just faces but hidden talents and personal stories. Tuerk plays piano during the final minutes of meals at the Friendly Kitchen, a skill that amazed Tokos. "To hear him play the piano blows you away," she said. "These are the important things that we don't see. I can see you, but I don't see you. And that's what I wanted to do."
Another subject, Melissa Cleasby, 41, wrote alongside her portrait: "There is so much more to me than the one small part." Cleasby learned to paint as a teenager when she received a toolbox full of art supplies as a Christmas gift. She still uses that same toolbox today, finding refuge in her art even while living in challenging circumstances with her husband Jesse. "Even if it's the worst day of your life, you can always find something to be happy about," Cleasby explained. "That's where my art comes into play. I just paint and everything goes away."
The gallery walls featured landscapes Cleasby painted, both realistic and fantastical, displayed beside her photograph. Her written statement expressed hope: "I'd be so happy to share my art with others, and have them enjoy my pieces as much as I enjoy creating them." The exhibition serves as a platform for subjects to share their aspirations and humanity beyond their current circumstances.
Other portraits tell equally compelling stories of resilience and hope. David Josselyn, 88, from Henniker, retired from his job as a dump truck driver last year and now keeps his beard year-round instead of just during winter months. Malcolm King, who lives downtown, initially appeared shy but became excited about his portrait when he realized it offered an opportunity to share that he serves as an elder in the Church of Latter Day Saints on Clinton Street. His hands, decorated with wolf head-shaped rings, caught Tokos's attention and became a focal point of his portrait.
Bill McFarlin, 72, represents the musical spirit found within the community. Originally from Epsom, this lifelong musician has played guitar for 42 years and traveled across the country before returning to Concord in 2006. McFarlin plays music near homeless encampments as part of his outreach to help people in early recovery. "The acoustics under the 393 bridge are excellent," he noted. "If I can bring happiness in the music, I'm doing something better and spreading a message. Because I'm also teaching that you can indeed be happy in sobriety."
The exhibition includes two photographs of Rodney Moody, who died in February and was remembered for taking people under his wing. "I like to be everybody's doorman," Moody had told Tokos. "I feel needed that way." His portrait shows him leaning forward with an elbow on his knee while his dog sits beside him against a backdrop of fallen autumn leaves on green grass. Gallery guests passed around a sign-up list for anyone wanting a copy of Moody's portrait, demonstrating the lasting impact of these human connections.
Letitia Hamel initially hesitated about being photographed, fearing judgment and ridicule. However, she ultimately decided to participate, saying, "Why not? Everybody needs to know who we are." Hamel, who is in recovery and relies on an e-bike for transportation due to mobility issues, beams in her portrait while standing over her bicycle. As she moved through the gallery reading personal histories and quotes, she wiped away tears, finding hope in the shared stories.
Sara Curran, office manager at the Friendly Kitchen, views the portraits as an invitation for community understanding. "These are all people who have lived lives that we know nothing about," she said. "This is just a moment in their lives, and we kind of get to learn more about who they are and what they've been through." The exhibition challenges viewers to see beyond stereotypes and recognize the complex humanity of each individual.
Multiple subjects wrote "I'm a good person" beside their photographs, revealing a desire for recognition and dignity. Jonesy Rainsville, a Friendly Kitchen staff member, observed the subjects' enthusiasm for sharing their stories. "They want to share their stories, and they want other people to know that they're trying hard and they're working hard to do the best they can every day," Rainsville explained.
Tuerk believes Tokos's project arrives at a crucial time when the city's progress on addressing homelessness appears to have stalled. "It's all been bad news lately," he said. "That's something that's heavy out here, is not knowing that there's a plan set in motion. Stuff like what Cynthia is doing gets people to talk about it." The exhibition serves as both art and advocacy, humanizing issues often discussed in abstract policy terms.
The "What I Want You to Know" exhibition represents more than just photography; it creates a bridge between different segments of the community. By transforming the Friendly Kitchen's dining room into a gallery space, Tokos has created a unique venue where art meets social justice, allowing viewers to encounter the subjects in their own environment while seeing them through a new lens of dignity and respect.
