La Casita Cultural Center to exhibit work of students from the Westside Academy at Blodgett
A group of 13 students from the Westside Academy at Blodgett has spent the past four weeks learning to document their lives through photographs and words. They will celebrate their results with an exhibition at La Casita Cultural Center, 109 Otisco St. The opening reception is 3-6 p.m. Friday, March 23, and is free and open to the public.
The teen photography workshops, held at La Casita and sponsored by the Ford Driving Dreams program, are facilitated by award-winning photographer Efren Lopez, whose work “The Photographer as Child: Memories From Guatemala” is currently on exhibit at La Casita. Ford Driving Dreams is a partnership among La Casita, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), La Liga, University College and the Westside Academy at Blodgett, funded by the Ford Motor Fund through a grant to LULAC.
Lopez, assisted by student photographer Isabella Rogmans-Pineda from Onondaga Community College, taught the students the basics of photographic art (framing, composition, depth, color combination), how to develop their photographs and how to curate their exhibition at La Casita.
“Mr. Lopez showed us how to take professional pictures,” says program participant Genesis de Jesus. “It was amazing. I’m proud of myself because I did a good job and everybody who saw my work liked it.”
Although she was helping to facilitate the workshop, Rogmans-Pineda says it was also a learning experience for her. “I enjoyed working with the children and Efren. The experience also helped me to jump ahead with my own photography.”
Born in Guatemala, Lopez is a student in the Military Photojournalism Program in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. He is also an aerial photographer for the U.S. Air Force and the first reservist to be selected to attend Newhouse’s Military Photojournalism Program.
Rick Burton, the David B. Falk Endowed Professor of Sport Management at Falk College, shared his expertise in Sports Business Journal’s article “Lessons through hockey as NHL joins busy slate.” In this article, Burton shares an excerpt from his new book…
Shannon Monnat, professor of sociology in the Maxwell School, was featured in Grid for the story “U.S. suicide rates rose again in 2021, ending a brief decline during the covid pandemic.” The article highlights that despite the small decrease in suicide…
Scott Landes, associate professor of sociology in the Maxwell School, was quoted in Disability Scoop for their story “COVID-19 Was Leading Killer Of People With Developmental Disabilities.” The article explains how recent research shows that people with developmental disabilities were more…
Jeff Karson, professor of tectonics & magmatism of rifts and transform faults in the College of Arts & Sciences’ Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, shared his expertise in Hollywood Reporter’s article “‘The Rings of Power’ Showrunners — and a…
Robert Thompson, Trustee Professor of radio, television and film and director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture in the Newhouse School, was quoted in The Telegraph article “Analysts Consider Twitter Under Musk Regime.” This story details Elon…
If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.
