Artists step up in support of people experiencing homelessness

A pair of sneakers can take you places – but these one-of-a-kind New Balance runners are taking their next step towards making a real difference. 

Thirteen South Australian artists, among them a teenage art prodigy and two Hutt St Centre clients, have transformed these iconic sneakers into unique works of art, creating collector-worthy pairs that are now being auctioned online to raise vital funds for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. 

Hutt St Centre CEO Chris Burns said each artist had transformed the New Balance 624s using spray paint, intricate fabric weaving and detailed acrylic paintwork, reflecting powerful stories of resilience, identity, strength and hope for the future. 

“With close to $10,000 raised to date, every bid brings the campaign one step closer to its goal – giving art lovers, sneaker enthusiasts and generous donors the chance to own something truly unique while helping those in need take steps towards a better future,” Mr Burns said. 

He said money raised through the Sole Purpose: Sneakers for Change project would support Hutt St Centre in providing for the 7,500 South Australians seeking assistance as the cost-of-living crisis impacts more of the community.   

The sneaker art represents the individual identities, backgrounds and experiences of each artist, illustrating the power of art and how it can be used to tell a story. 

Emerging artist and Hutt St Centre client Eddie Lynch is hoping his designer artwork - an intergalactic piece titled “Apollo 624 2026” will help raise significant funds before the online auction closes on September 30.   

Mr Lynch became a Hutt St Centre client after separating from his wife after 25 years of marriage, leaving him without a home and without access to the tools he needed to continue his 30-year career as a self-employed concreter. With the support of Hutt Street Centre, Eddie found a home and began rebuilding his life.  

He has since nurtured an emerging talent for art through Hutt St Centre, which has become an important part of his journey to homefulness. 

“Hutt St opened up avenues for me that I didn’t even know existed – they helped with housing, the NDIS and anything I needed,” Mr Lynch said. 

“They helped me with encouragement – they believed in me. I will do anything I can for Hutt Street.”  

Sixteen-year-old artist Joe Whale, aka “Doodle Boy”, has collaborated with Nike and Disney and has been commissioned by the Prince and Princess of Wales.  

For Hutt St Centre’s sneaker project, he brought his signature doodle style to “Nomad”, a pair of bright green runners inspired by hiking and running through Belair National Park while training for soccer. 

“I had thoughts of feeling completely free and not part of the increasing global issues that face us all,” Whale said. “I dreamed of everyone being unbounded and released from daily pressures – and what it would be like to be a completely free soul.” 

Award-winning artist Erin Renfrey’s “Putting Down Roots” features hand-painted sneakers with playful beetroots and carrots, exploring homelessness through the human needs of belonging and nourishment and the belief that “everyone deserves a home and the chance to put down roots”. 

The designer sneakers are available to purchase via an online auction until 30 September and are being exhibited in RunDNA stores at Fullarton and Hindmarsh. They can be viewed and bid for online at Sole Purpose.  

There will also be a People’s Choice award, with voting now open online.