In olden days, say the 1970s or so, at the most recent, there were caseworkers and beat cops and extended families and longtime citizens of a block who kept tabs on their corner and looked after all manner of strays. All summer at the corner of Chicago and Damen, a homeless woman has taken up residence on one bus shelter during the day, another, catty-corner, by night, head folded, a white blanket covering her face and form at almost all times. The worst modern reaction, however, has come from all those who merely assumed it was a “time arts” stunt, a bit of performance art involving duration.
