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See 'No Excuses: The Ridgecrest Photo Project' at church
By
Piper Castillo, Times Staff Writer
In print: Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Courtesy of Greater Ridgecrest Area Youth Development Initiative
Andre Dearman’s photo of a friend doing his trademark flip is included in the “No Excuses: Ridgecrest Photo Project” exhibit opening Thursday at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 13225 118th St. Largo.
He told his buddies to act normal. He wanted to show what a common day looked like in his neighborhood. "But then my friend wanted to do a back-flip, and I had to snap fast,'' said Andre Dearman, 13. "Actually, it was normal. He is always doing flips.'' The picture of a perfect flip will be one of several photographs on display beginning Thursday at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. The exhibit, "No Excuses: The Ridgecrest Photo Project,'' is a collaboration of the Family Resources Youth Arts Corps at Gulf Coast Museum of Art and the Greater Ridgecrest Area Youth Development Initiative.
"We felt a project like this, through photography, would help motivate our youth as well as show them another way to express how they see their world,'' said Michelle Wilson, executive director of the Youth Development Initiative.
The collaborative effort came about after Wilson's organization received a $3,000 arts and education grant from Target.
"Once I heard we received the funding from Target, I contacted the Youth Arts Corps,'' Wilson said. "The money to pay the teacher, for example, was funded through them.''
Beginning in March, students, ages 13 to 17, participated in an apprenticeship of sorts. They'd meet twice weekly for two months, learning not only how to take and develop photographs, but also exhibition staging, public speaking and community research.
Organizers plan to make "No Excuses'' a traveling exhibit, said Rachel Stewart, program supervisor at Youth Arts Corps, a program of Family Resources Inc. that offers art education and job training at the Gulf Coast Museum of Art. But for now, it will hang on the walls at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church.
"We wanted to start the exhibit in Ridgecrest. Shiloh is a pivotal community meeting place,'' she said.
For the program participants, the exhibit is merely the beginning.
"I want to keep taking pictures,'' said Margarita Alfaro, 14, who will have several photos on display. "Before this, I honestly didn't think I could walk in front of people with a camera.''
If you go
What: "No Excuses: Ridgecrest Photo Project" • When: Opening Reception, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday • Where: Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 13225 118th St., Largo • Admission: Free. Open to the public. • For information: Call the Greater Ridgecrest Area Youth Development Initiative at 595-1684
[Last modified: Nov 19, 2008 04:43 PM]
Comments on this article
by Patrick
Nov 19, 2008 4:43 PM
Kids need to see that art through photograpy is not dead, especially these children, many of whom could have been labled as failures because of the community they reside in and the lack of participation in programs like this. Kudos to the Art Corps.
by Delores McClendon
Nov 19, 2008 3:48 PM
Positive community stories. Great things come from this area and the surrounding communities. We have a vision for our youth and we want stop until it is accomplished.
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