AIE-PhotoVoice
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AIE-PhotoVoice3
This summer, 38 young adults participating in "PhotoVoice" have been exploring photography as a means of visual storytelling. Through funding from the New York City Mayor’s Office Center for Economic Opportunity, and in partnership with theRed Hook and Brownsville Community Justice Centers, BAC is working with teaching artist Brenna McLaughlin as well as teaching artists Russell Frederick and Sam Barzilay from United Photo Industries (UPI) to provide 2 participatory photography residencies. The artists have taught technical skills in photography while also sharing the historical and social context of photography with a focus on social justice.Participatory photography gives youth the opportunity to connect in a visual dialogue that often excludes them. This project engages students through a series of workshops and class critiques, empowering students to craft visual stories from their own unique perspectives. Each student selected their final projects to engage the public on topics that inspire or concern them. In addition to exhibits in their neighborhoods, student work will be exhibited alongside professional artists from around the world as part of Photoville in DUMBO from September 19-29.During the final Brownsville class on August 16, one student expressed the impact of this program: “This is a stepping stone for my career. I’m more confident going after what I want. There are people in Brownsville who wants good – not just old people. We, the young, we’re the future.” Other responses to the teaching artist’s question, “What did you learn or gain from this class?” included:“I learned how to get along with people – interact. I got a better understanding of how to complete something – really work.”“I got to work with people in a community I used to think of as small, but now I see as big – and I see what an impact we can make. I also learned how to use my camera – not just using it, but control it to make what I want. I learned what a network is.”