‘Dreams: Between the Sky and the Earth: Collaborations with Children at the Edward Smith Elementary School’ on display at The Warehouse

‘Dreams: Between the Sky and the Earth: Collaborations with Children at the Edward Smith Elementary School’ on display at The WarehouseJanuary 08, 2007Mary Lee Hodgensmlhodgen@syr.edu

“Between the sky and the earth emerge paths to a new way of life where people journey together to a cleaner, safer, more beautiful world.” So reads the inscription on a photograph by fifth-grader Shivhari Chathrattil describing his dream and image. It is one of more than 80 photographs — in addition to a video documentary — on display in the Link Gallery at The Warehouse, 350 W. Fayette St., beginning Monday, Jan. 15. The exhibition, “Dreams: Between the Sky and the Earth,” explores the dreams and visual imaginations of fifth-grade students in the Syracuse City School District (SCSD) and is the culmination of the efforts of an innovative course — Literacy, Community and Photography — offered through Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. The exhibition is on view through Feb. 17.

The course, inspired by a national movement to promote literacy through the arts, is taught by photographer Stephen Mahan, working in collaboration with Mary Lynn Mahan, art teacher at Edward Smith Elementary School. The course brings SU students into the elementary school classroom as teaching artists and 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 part of the collaborative program Partnership for Better Education involving the SCSD, SU and partnering area institutions.

As part of the exhibition, the Mahans will present the Burton Blatt Innovation Grant Gallery Talk Feb. 15 at 4:30 p.m., in which they will describe their passionate commitment to teaching photography as a way to foster self esteem, written and verbal communication skills, and critical thinking in the classroom. Edward Smith classrooms are based on the philosophy of whole school inclusion, which enables every child — both those with and without disabilities — to be a member of the classroom community andparticipate in the arts programming. The closing reception for the exhibition will follow the gallery talk, with both events open to the public.

This program is supported by Partnership for Better Education, SU, SCSD, an Innovation Grant from SU’s Burton Blatt Institute, SU’s College of Visual and Performing Arts and Light Work.

Partnership for Better Education is supported in part through grants from the Burton Blatt Institute, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Verizon Foundation, the New York State Department of Education, Higher Education Services Corp. and the U.S. Department of Education.

Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information on the exhibition e-mail info@thewarehousegallery.org.