Trespass America Project

In 2019 Kim Watson took his camera and pen to the streets, bringing stories of the unhoused to friends and neighbors. Five years later, TRESPASS is the project of a lifetime.  "This is the most important thing I have ever done. I’m driven to show how art can be a catalyst for change," Watson states.  Following an initial 2022 solo multi-media exhibition, Watson produced a series of moderated public panel discussions to build awareness and empathy for the unhoused. Since 2020, Watson and his family have distributed over 2500 meals prepared in his kitchen. He’s exhibited in Los Angeles, Oakland, and New York. Neighbors often leave contributions on his porch, and many have become proactive in their support of the unhoused. In May of 2024, Broadleaf Books published TRESPASS: Portraits of Unhoused Life, Love, and Understanding, a collection of breathtaking images, poetry, and essays based on his work. Watson has spoken, and exhibited in from Los Angeles to New York City, including Harlem's iconic Essie Green Galleries, USC's Annenberg School of Communication, the Los Angeles Central Library, Hollywood's Book Soup, and Oakland's intellectual activist hub, "Clio's." These engagements have been powerful and even emotional, as strangers come together to experience the work and seek community. 2024/ early 2025, events include the completion of the documentary, more readings and book signings, and a panel discussion on "The Role of Art as a Catalyst for Change." WHAT'S NEXT FOR TRESPASS?....  The TRESPASS Installation! A world-class production, lighting, and sound design team has completed preliminary designs and concepts. The proposed TRESPASS installation is a deeply immersive and interactive multimedia experience that places the public inside the jarring daily reality of "the unhoused." The two-week, free-to-the-public TRESPASS experience features not only the massive installation but projections, performances, resource offerings, panels and collaborations between the unhoused and the stakeholders who are committed to Art as a Catalyst for Change. NOW is the time for another leap forward. Your donations will be the next step toward making the TRESPASS Installation a reality. Dream Bigger - Aim Higher - Make Change Happen