Golden Carts Tell Tales of Pasadena’s Unnoticed: Local Artist Brings Homelessness Into Focus

In Sidney F. Tyler Park, shopping carts transformed into art are sparking conversations about homelessness. This weekend, residents can learn about Pasadena resident Lisa Mann’s poignant installation “George Wilson: HOME (more-or-less),” during an open house event featuring this thought-provoking sculpture. The gathering is hosted by Councilmembers Justin Jones and Jason Lyon.

The event will run from 9 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday in the park on South Lake Avenue at Oakwood Place.

Mann’s sculpture is composed of golden shopping carts, arranged to form a map of Pasadena and symbolizing the nomadic lifestyle often forced upon unhoused individuals.

The artwork serves a dual purpose, according to Mann. Beyond its artistic merit, it functions as a resource guide for the local homeless population. Laser-cut labels affixed to the structure identify various services available in Pasadena, including housing, meals, showers, and health care.

The piece also incorporates an audio component, featuring excerpts from Mann’s 2002 interview with George Wilson, a homeless man whose experiences inspired the work. This element aims to provide insight into the challenges faced by the homeless community.

Mann, a resident of Pasadena’s Garfield Heights neighborhood in District 3, has received several Pasadena Cultural Affairs Independent Artist Grants and ArtNight Pasadena mini-grants. Her work often addresses social and cultural issues through collaborative and community-based projects.

The sculpture is part of Pasadena’s Rotating Public Art Program, currently in its Series IV. Established in the late 1980s, this program aims to enhance public spaces with contemporary art that celebrates the human spirit and condition. It has produced both temporary and permanent installations in various mediums throughout the city.

“George Wilson: HOME (more-or-less)” will remain on display at Sidney F. Tyler Park through June 2026.

Saturday’s event offers residents a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of art and social awareness, encouraging public dialogue about homelessness and the role of art in addressing community challenges.