CARING COMMUNITY LIFTS ARTIST FROM STREET LIFE.

Byline: DENNIS McCARTHY 

The next time someone says people don't care anymore, tell them about 87-year-old homeless artist Tonie Michael and his mutt, Skipper.

Tell them how these two pals living in a cardboard shanty in an alley near Van Nuys Airport went from anonymity to celebrity in just a few days because people still care.

Tell them how the wheels of government, which usually grind along at a snail's pace when it comes to helping the little guy, speeded up this week for Michael and Skipper so they can have a real roof, not just cardboard, over their heads soon.

``This is unbelievable,'' Michael said Wednesday as he sat behind a desk in a Van Nuys printing shop signing prints of his artwork for a long line of people wanting to buy one for $20 - or three for $50.

``Three days ago, no one but a few people knew Skipper and I even existed,'' he said. ``Now, everyone does. I am just so grateful.''

There was no doubt Michael meant every word. But it was the more than 100 people - who showed up on a hot Wednesday afternoon at this makeshift art show to meet this homeless man - who said they were the ones who should be grateful.

``I think his story touched a lot of people and reminded us that what really counts are the human beings living out here, not the politics,'' said Andy Ligeti, who bought three prints.

Barbara Katz Bierman from Northridge, who also bought three prints, summed up the general feeling.

``We're all only two steps away from being where Tonie is, so we can appreciate what he's going through,'' she said. ``An old man with talent who just fell on hard times and needs a little help.''

As I wrote in Sunday's column, Michael has been living on the streets since 1996, when a series of broken promises and art deals gone bad left him without a roof over his head.

He found Skipper on the streets five years ago lying in a gutter after being hit by a car and nursed the dog back to health. Skipper returned the favor by becoming his best friend and helping him stay out of harm's way as he lived on the streets.

But even a faithful companion and guard dog couldn't stop thieves from stealing most of Michael's belongings over the years - everything but his artwork, which he keeps in storage.

A few years ago, Michael was befriended by local truck driver Hector Frasier and Les Jarrin, who owns Jarrin Printing and Imaging in Van Nuys, and his employee Michelle Matthews.

They saw the talent of this homeless artist - the talent more than 100 people came to see for themselves at a makeshift art show.

``I'm an artist who is here to support another artist,'' said Cat Guerra of Woodland Hills. ``But I never imagined his art would be this good.''

Moonyeen Powers of Chatsworth agreed. ``I came to help a homeless artist, and fell in love with his work,'' she said, buying three prints and making a bid on one of Michael's original paintings.

``It's been like a domino effect, really incredible to see,'' said truck driver Frasier, looking around the crowded room where the line for Michael's autograph stretched out the door into the hot sunlight.

Nearby, print shop employee Matthews was scrambling to find additional prints to fill the demand.

Not in their wildest dreams, Jarrin said, did they think the old homeless man living in a nearby alley would one day have this kind of social and emotional impact on a community.

Jarrin will take the approximately $3,000 raised from the sale of Michael's prints to open a bank account for him.

``There's no way he can walk around with that kind of money on the streets,'' Matthews said, adding that arrangements were being made Wednesday afternoon to put Michael and Skipper up at a nearby location for a few days so they wouldn't have to go back to the alley during this heat spell.

``The bottom line, though, is we still have to find them a home,'' Frasier said.

On cue, almost, the answer walked in the front door.

Patti Friedman, deputy for Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, arrived to tell Michael that because of his advanced age and circumstances he was eligible for immediate county and city help while the formal paperwork for steady assistance went through channels.

``Within a few days, you'll be getting assistance with MediCal, food stamps and general relief,'' she said, as an emotional Tonie thanked her and walked slowly back to his desk to sign more prints.

The soon to be ex-homeless artist looked up at the long line of people wanting his autograph on a print, and just shook his head.

``It's like a dream,'' he said.

Yeah, it is. A great dream.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) Cat Guerra of Woodland Hills shakes hands with homeless artists Tonie Michael at a sale of his work Wednesday in Van Nuys.

(2) Artist Tonie Michael signs a print of one of his paintings for buyers Wednesday at Jarrin Printing and Imaging in Van Nuys.

Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer