In the 1880's, San Julian Street was the heart of L.A.'s commercial district. A hundred years later, the street was home to Gorky's, a funky restaurant that became the heart of the newly blossoming arts community. Today, San Julian is better known as the street address for much of L.A.'s homeless population.

Painter J. Michael Walker says San Julian is one of many streets in Southern California named after Catholic saints.

"Saint Julian one of the most popular saints of the middle ages. He's the patron saint of wanderers and those who give refuge to wanderers."

Walker has been researching L.A.'s holier street names. His new exhibit at the Autry Museum is called "All the Saints of the City of the Angels." Walker says there's a connection between the street and the Saint Julian.

"His story's like a Greek legend or something out of Shakespeare. There was a curse that was thrust upon him and he wandered around for many years until he settled down and decided that he would start offering his home as a refuge to other wanderers."

Today, San Julian is home to the Los Angeles Men's Project, or L.A.M.P., a shelter for the mentally ill. Walker says it's appropriate that many of the staffers at L.A.M.P. used to be homeless themselves and just like Saint Julian, they refer to clients as their "guests."

(Airdate: 3/1/08)