(Any level) Sign of the Times

Andres Serrano purchased 200 signs from homeless people in New York City. The collection tells the story of poverty in America and the world.

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Sign of the Times


Verb forms - chose the best one - or both, if both are possible....

Sign of the Times was conceived in early October when I started seeing / to see what I perceived as a greater number of homeless people in New York City. As a native New Yorker, it surprised me because I had / have never seen so many people beg / begging and sleep / sleeping on the streets. It occurred to me to start buying / to buy the signs that the homeless use to ask for money.

I immersed myself in the project, going out almost on a daily basis and walking five, six, seven hours a day. Once, I even walked 12 hours around the city – uptown to Harlem, East and West, downtown to Battery Park and back home to the East Village. I never took transportation anywhere because I felt that since the homeless live on the streets, I had to walk the streets like they do. After a while, a few said me / to me, "I've heard of you. You're the guy going around to buy / buying signs. I was wondering if you were ever going to find me." I bought about 200 signs and usually offered $20 which they were happy, even ecstatic, to get / getting. (Once, though, I saw a sign that said, "Just need $10". So I said to the guy, "I'll give you $10 for it" and he said, "You got it. I guess the sign did its job!")

What struck me about the people who sold me their signs was their willingness to let go /  going of them. It was as if they had little attachment to them even though some signs had been with them for a long time. Of course, they needed the money. Many people would tell me they made / had made nothing that day. But I also think that those who possess little have less attachment to material things. They know what it's like to live with less.

I had a certain way of approaching people. Whenever I saw anyone sit / sitting on the street with a sign I wanted, I would crouch down, but not sit down. To sit down next to them would be like to sit / sitting on their couch without to ask / asking permission. But by crouching down, I could look them in the eye and be / being on the same level. Then I would say, "Can I ask you a question?"

They always said yes and I'd say, "I'm an artist. And artists see things in a different way. And one of the things I see are the signs the homeless have / has. I'm buying these signs because I see /  am seeing every sign as a story. There are many stories out here that should be heard. Can I offer / to offer you $20 for your sign?" They would all say yes, and it was touching / touched me how grateful many people were when I bought their sign. I had got / got several hugs and many a "God bless you."

I bought signs from people of all ages, including some who were my age. I remember to buy /  buying a sign from a man in his 60s who was sitting / sat outside the McDonald's around 10pm. He looked at me as if I was an angel from heaven. He had pennies in his cup and couldn't believe I wanted / had wanted to give him $20 for his sign. He said, "Now, I can get a bed and a meal."

The youngest person I bought a sign from was probably 16. I forgot asking / to ask her age, but she could have been even younger. Her sign read:

Mom had told / told us to wait right here. That was 10 years ago.

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Andres Serrano