Light Work presents exhibition ‘Learning Through the Lens,’ featuring work by students at Edward Smith Elementary

Light Work presents exhibition ‘Learning Through the Lens,’ featuring work by students at Edward Smith ElementaryMay 02, 2006Jessica Heckmanjhheckma@syr.edu

The Light Work gallery will present “Learning Through the Lens: Collaborations With Children at Edward Smith Elementary School,” an exhibition of work that explores the lives and visual imaginations of fourth- and fifth-grade Syracuse school children. The show runs May 9-Dec. 31 in the Robert B. Menschel Photography Gallery located in the Hildegarde and J. Myer Schine Student Center. A reception will be held May 9 at 6 p.m. in the Menschel gallery. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

“My picture is of me thinking. All I’m really thinking about is going to the dark room. But I chose my mind because I like my imagination,” reads the inscription on a photograph by Brandon Mavins describing his favorite part of himself. Mavins’ work is just one of more than 80 photographs on display in the exhibition. Also featured are images by Syracuse University photography students that examine the various facets of the school experience. The opening reception will bring together the young artists and their SU mentors, who guided the students through the entire photographic process.

Inspired by photographer Wendy Ewald’s “Literacy Through Photography” projects, in which the artist hands over cameras to children to explore how they think, the exhibition is the culmination of the efforts of an innovative course, Literacy, Community, and Photography, offered through the College of Visual and Performing Arts in cooperation with the Department of Fine Arts in The College of Arts and Sciences. Team-taught by SU professors Judith Meighan and Doug DuBois, working in collaboration with Edward Smith Elementary art teacher Mary Lynn Mahan, the course brought to the classroom perspectives from both academic and studio backgrounds. As funding for arts programs is routinely cut from school budgets, this project demonstrates how a strong relationship between the arts and the basic school curriculum can promote writing, as well as visual literacy, among students. This pioneering course is the beginning of a long-lasting partnership between the Syracuse City School District and the University, as well as the first of many community-based courses offered by SU.

Gallery hours for the exhibition are Sunday-Saturday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., and by appointment. The gallery is closed on school holidays. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Light Work at (315) 443-1300.