Los Angeles Times
October 7, 1981
By Dorothy Townsend

The work, titled “Homage to the street people” is a string of eight huge (6 square feet) shopping bags splashed with black Xs and glitter dust. With considerable efforts and numerous near mishaps, Elias and friend were trying to get it strung across the 84-foot chasm of San Pedro Street between two buildings, No 443 and 444.

Twice they got it up and twice the rope holding it between the two structures broke. Within an hour, though, reinforced with wire, the work was raised with joyous yelp from the artist’s crew. But the man on the street was gone by then.

“I’m doing a homage to the street people,” explained Elias, “ The Xs are my symbol for the Pompidou Museum in Paris. I’m bringing the museum to street people.”

Wearing a black T-shirt and back-billed cap, both splashed with white-painted Xs and glitter dust, Elias said the work is both joyous and somber.

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Tropical Tribune
October 5,1994

Metro-Dade Cultural Resource Center Opens With Installation by Sheila Elias.

The Metro-Dade Cultural Resource Center, located in the Government Center Building (west Lobby), opened with an installation by Sheila Elias on September 27. The current installation HOMELESS POWERLESS depicts the plight of the have-nots versus the privileged society. Part of the gallery has the articles about the homeless papered to cardboard figures that have a kinetic appearance. The other side of the gallery has paraphernalia as a metaphor for the elite society.

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