Opening reception, Friday November 13th 6p to 10p at 1915 S. Halsted
Juvenile Development is an exhibition that features work from a variety of talented young artists. These students work under the guidance of established artists in apprenticeship roles. A holistic approach is taken when introducing the teens to the world of a practicing artist - they are held accountable for all aspects of the production process, from maintenance of the studio and its tools, to the promotion of their work via web publishing. Although they are working under professional guidance, class decisions are made democratically and the apprentices learn to live with the consequences of their decisions - fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility.
Over the course of a year, apprentices are responsible for completing a variety of projects. These projects explore issues including, but not limited to: community, family, home, nature, self, friends, and politics. Teens are encouraged to reflect on who they are and where they come from - using the projects as a vehicle to share that with the rest of the world.
The selection of work on display is taken from several different projects. One project, Uncommon Chicago introduced the teens to the history of photography with a visit to the Made in Chicago exhibit at the Cultural Center. Students were then set loose downtown Chicago with the goal of producing their own uncommon images - they were encouraged to seek out 'secret spots' and take only original images - landmarks such as the Sears tower are not to be captured. This proved to expand their creativity and extracted an unusual beauty from casual scenes. Another project was focused on the power of cultural symbolism. After brainstorming self-descriptive words, the apprentices combined the words with found objects to create designer symbols - photogram self portraits.
While promoting the field of art as an open forum for communication, stress is placed on the marketability of the teens' work and the clarity of their message. This gives each teen an opportunity for public speaking. Listening and communication skills are fostered via guided discussions where teens articulate the nuances of their work and their inspiration. Positive reinforcement maintains a courteous and respectful environment where each teen is encouraged to share their ideas.
Come meet the next generation of photographers - they will be in attendance to answer your questions and present their work to the world.
Support for this exhibition provided by, Podmajersky, Inc. and the Chicago Arts District
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