April 2023: A Glimpse of Homeless Performer Glen "Pops" Freeman's visit to San Diego CA in 2022 Post 4
Yes, I used the term homeless in the title as opposed to other more PC terms.
After reading various articles and blogs, including an enlightening reminder by Joe Omundson at https://medium.com/ecofrugality/stop-confusing-homeless-and-houseless-39b055d29ea3 , the terms homeless and living on the streets seem to be labels these musicians and artists I will write about this summer prefer.
They have shared their stories about COVID 19, feeling invisible, how they spend their daily lives, the precious flow time spent on the streets, maintaining hope while facing pandemic dynamics, a humbling experience they are allowing me to share with you.
I've written about general homelessness in San Diego California from different socio-political perspectives over the years in various blog posts(for a recent [for a recent post, see https://carpenoctum2.blogspot.com/2022/07/the-unhoused-in-downtown-san-diego.html), including a brief but apprehensive mention about the growing number of homeless who seemed to have made San Diego their wish list destination in my very popular Sonictapestry blog about Comic Con in 2015 Delores Fisher’s Comic Con Chronicles 2015 #1 | sonictapestry (wordpress.com) .
However, posts planned planned for this coming summer in 2023 about a few of San Diego's homeless population will cover a few talented creatives who have survived COVID 19 despite disruption to their health, spirit, and creativity.
COVID 19 artwork of hope, East Village San Diego photo by delores fisher
The first artist, unlike the two women who I've known for several
years, is a person with whom I had a relatively recent encounter while
resuming my San Diego city streets strolls. The series of "strolling"
blog posts impressions and responses has continued to engage readers
around the world, and every few months, despite my disability, I include
a strolling post, especially during Comic Con.
Watch for them this summer.
Glen "Pops" Freeman 2022
Glen "Pops" Freeman 2022 San Diego CA. photo by Delores Fisher
He was sitting very tall and quiet. I saw from about half a block away. On an early afternoon stroll in the heart of San Diego's East Village last year, I walked by the thin, bearded, older African American man sitting on a transformer box, staring intently into the windows facing the sidewalk.
He was staring at several paintings in an exhibit featured by Sparks Gallery on Sixth Avenue near Market Street. I followed his gaze into the windows and onto the paintings. He was smiling. I stopped and admired the paintings too. Such exquisite artistry!
I turned to him and smiled. Our eyes met in appreciation and returned to the exhibit in the window. A minute or so later, we were talking about painting. He described several types and styles with which we both were familiar, his preferences, his personal training as a young painter. We shared for several minutes about Romere Beardon, the Harlem Renaissance, and also Jacob Lawrence.
He said he was from currently from Seattle. This summer, in 2022, he came back to San Diego and was living on the streets, sharing his music. He also spoke briefly, humbly about his Seattle street musician celebrity status since around 2010 or so. We continued to talk about art, life as an artist. He is a very quiet and soft-spoken gentle man.
He told me his name was Glen "Pops" Freeman and that he was well known on the Internet. He had been on social media for over a decade. Despite his Internet fame, "Pops" still enjoys a simple life. I shared about my blog Notesong/Carpenoctum2 and how I've been posting fairly regularly since around 2012.
I know how rewarding it feels to have people around the world who enjoy the work that we do and share with them. "Pops" mentioned that he had several videos and Facebook posts about him and his music over the years. He appreciates the articles written about his life as well as the videos of live performances he has done in Seattle.
I was enjoying myself. We had a really energized creative exchange that felt suspended in time.
The day continued on. Glen "Pops" Freeman's talked about his life after COVID. I listened.
Street performers like "Pops" Freeman are all over San Diego. However, my experience with Glen was a unique "strolling" moment.
Photos were taken as we said goodbye because I wanted to enjoy the energy of his encounter. Internet searches about him could always take place later.
A few months later, that's exactly what I did. Here's just a small amount of published information I learned about him.
YOUTUBE
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