'It brings a smile on faces, and a shine on shoes'
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TACOMA, Wash. -- Gabriel Brown is a man on a mission.
Dressed like the city's old City Hall, Brown shines shoes on the street. He draws smiles even though he has faced tough times.
"I've been laid off four times in the last few years, most of those directly due to the economy," he said. "Moved to Tacoma, (and) I have been just looking for work non-stop."
In between four part-time jobs, Brown dons his replica of the beloved now-unoccupied landmark, and sets off to shine shoes.
"(The building) sits down there, empty, so I kind of just wanted to give it a job," said Brown.
The shoe-shine artist dislikes waste. Recycled campaign signs for Dino Rossi piece together his replica. His conversations with shoe-shine customers revolve around repair.
Brown got his inspiration from the Hope in Hard Times exhibit at the Washington State History Museum. The exhibit highlights Washingtonians who suffered through the Great Depression, includes messages that reflect what many are experiencing today.
"I feel like it's more than an economic slump; it's a big reality check for us," said Brown.
Brown doesn't want his talents, the old City Hall or footwear going to waste, but the shoe-shining City Hall isn't going to waste too much time worrying about that.
"It brings a smile on faces, and a shine on shoes. If nothing else, I do hope it's just about that," said Brown.
You can find the performing artist shining shoes weekday mornings by the museum until its Great Depression exhibit ends.
Dressed like the city's old City Hall, Brown shines shoes on the street. He draws smiles even though he has faced tough times.
"I've been laid off four times in the last few years, most of those directly due to the economy," he said. "Moved to Tacoma, (and) I have been just looking for work non-stop."
In between four part-time jobs, Brown dons his replica of the beloved now-unoccupied landmark, and sets off to shine shoes.
"(The building) sits down there, empty, so I kind of just wanted to give it a job," said Brown.
The shoe-shine artist dislikes waste. Recycled campaign signs for Dino Rossi piece together his replica. His conversations with shoe-shine customers revolve around repair.
Brown got his inspiration from the Hope in Hard Times exhibit at the Washington State History Museum. The exhibit highlights Washingtonians who suffered through the Great Depression, includes messages that reflect what many are experiencing today.
"I feel like it's more than an economic slump; it's a big reality check for us," said Brown.
Brown doesn't want his talents, the old City Hall or footwear going to waste, but the shoe-shining City Hall isn't going to waste too much time worrying about that.
"It brings a smile on faces, and a shine on shoes. If nothing else, I do hope it's just about that," said Brown.
You can find the performing artist shining shoes weekday mornings by the museum until its Great Depression exhibit ends.
There is a black guy in Seattle that shines shoes in front of the Central who does a unbelievable job. He is a bum but I have a lot of respect for him actually doing a service for his money. It is a great service for the $5 donation I give him and I got some shiny boots.
Great way to take lemons and make lemonade. Â I like his positive attitude and want a smile on my face and a shine on my shoes and may load up all my boots, fill my pocket with cash, and go to Tacoma to meet this guy!
too cool.