- Title: For homeless street artist, coronavirus a new menace in a perilous life in Chile
- Date: 11th April 2020
- Summary: VALPARAISO, CHILE (APRIL 10, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF HOMELESS STREET ARTIST, HUMBERTO VASQUEZ, PAINTING VARIOUS OF VASQUEZ PAINTING ON CANVAS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARTIST, HUMBERTO VASQUEZ, SAYING: "I bought a pencil, paper and I started drawing. I spoke to an artist from Alamo (local painters group) and he taught me how to give life to a face, to eyes, with shading. And from there I went out on my own and I haven't stopped (painting)." PEDESTRIANS WALKING NEAR VASQUEZ AT WORK PERSON LOOKING ON AT VASQUEZ' WORK DETAIL OF PAINTING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARTIST, HUMBERTO VASQUEZ, SAYING: "(I paint) portraits, murals, caricatures, I paint on canvas and oil paintings." PERSON DROPPING MONEY FOR VASQUEZ AS HE PAINTS ON PAVEMENT VASQUEZ SITTING ON PAVEMENT, PAINTING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARTIST, HUMBERTO VASQUEZ, SAYING: "I take precautions (against coronavirus), but I have faith in God. I have been forced to use a face mask." VARIOUS OF VASQUEZ WORKING ON PAINTING ON PAVEMENT
- Embargoed: 25th April 2020 15:41
- Keywords: Chile Valparaiso art coronavirus homeless painter painting pandemic street artist
- Location: VALPARAISO, CHILE
- City: VALPARAISO, CHILE
- Country: Chile
- Topics: Art
- Reuters ID: LVA001C91PFLZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: While millions across Chile are safe inside for the country's coronavirus lockdown, this homeless street artist in Valparaiso has no choice but to keep up his easel.
58-year-old Humberto Vasquez struggles to make ends meet on a typical day in this Chilean city, and business is now tougher amid pandemic fears. Vasquez has to keep up his work on this street corner to help make ends meet, but generous passers-by are few and far between.
This street artist laments that unlike much of the country, he does not have the luxury of staying inside at home. Sometimes he is lucky to find room at a homeless shelter in the capital.
Vasquez sells his work at around $15 U.S. per painting. He also uses chalk to create art on the city's pavements, hoping pedestrians will throw him some spare change.
Chile has confirmed more than 6,500 cases of coronavirus in the country, with at least 65 reported deaths.
(Production: Esteban Medel, Paul Vieira) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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