ICP at the Point Empowers Youth Through Photography
by Jenoice Baxter
Issue date: 5/4/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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The International Center of Photography (ICP) is a museum and school located at 1143 Avenue of the Americas at 43rd St in New York. It was founded by the late Cornell Capa in 1974. The museum is entirely devoted to photography, and the range of photographers that exhibit at the museum varies from the well established, to emerging artists, and former students from the school. Established in 1996, ICP at The Point is a collaboration between the International Center of Photography and The Point Community Development Corporation.The ICP has an intensive curriculum for students who exhibit an interest in film and/or digital photography. Classes are held once a week after school for three hours and cameras and materials are provided at no cost to the students. They receive instruction on basic and intermediate skills in film and darkroom techniques over a ten week session.
The Vantage Point Gallery was established in January 2000, providing students the opportunity to display their work twice a year in a group exhibition. At the beginning of each term the instructors present a curriculum with a theme to concentrate on. This past fall/winter term's theme was 'Change' requiring students to reflect on how recent events or experiences have made impacted their lives.
Students are given creative freedom to interpret this concept and the results are varied as each student has unique experiences and wish to tell their stories from different perspectives. Program Director Melanie Diaz explains:
"Essentially, we tell [the students] about the theme, and they run with it, so there will be a variety of images that reflect what change means to them personally. I hope that when people come to [visit] the show, they will not just say 'that's a nice picture.' I hope that people will ask questions and listen to the kids because what you get out of the image may be different from their perspective, and that's fine, but I think it's important to understand where the kids are coming from because 'Change' is such a broad theme."
President Barack Obama's historical election to the presidency has generated unprecedented interest among the youth and it is no different with students at The Point. Isabela Espinal was too young to vote last November, but that could not minimize the impact that election had on her.
"My picture shows the then President-elect Barack Obama in graffiti on a train. The graffiti artist is most likely someone young, and the art symbolizes that people young and old are have been impacted by this great experience and great time in American history. People were really happy on Election Day, and were bursting with energy, it was amazing seeing [the graffiti] on the train."
Eddy Diamantis had a very different interpretation of change. He concentrated on a protest that was calling for change within the community.
"I chose to focus on a police brutality protest I attended because it sparked a lot of interest. Going to the protest and hearing all the different viewpoints really took me to a whole new level. I chose to focus on this work because I believed it really focused on change, and this is something that needs to be changed because it can happen anywhere.I saw this as a real viewpoint for change."
Jonathan Urena reflects on change that coincides with his spiritual journey.
"Back then, a lot more people played the harp like David [King David from the Bible's Old Testament) who played the harp, but today a lot more people play electrical instruments. Me and my dad play [instruments]. I play the piano and my dad plays the guitar. We usually play in our church and being active in church is a big part of my life since I am a Christian. Music, as well as photography, I thought would be a perfect way to document change in my life."
With a decrease in photography darkrooms in school institutions lately, the mission at The Point is to "allow students to use a different artistic medium."
"Photography for kids these days is digital which is great, but there is another form of photography to engage in which is film photography.It's nice for students to have the opportunity to indulge in this artistic skill," said Diaz. Developer, stop bath, and fixer are the sequences of photographic chemicals used for processing film and paper in the darkroom, a process which he says encourages teamwork because "it brings people together in one place to do their work."
"For the people in the Bronx, New York City, anywhere, [who are] still using film and the wet darkroom, it's an important practice because it brings the community together, it brings people together in one place to do their work. With digital sometimes, you're only by yourself with a computer," said Carlos Martinez, environmentalist activist, social advocate, and teacher assistant at The Point.
Martinez spoke of the camaraderie that develops among the students from working and learning together.
"As we crowd around the images splashing around in the developing trays, we often become involved in the work of our peers. There is constant dialogue in the darkroom as words of encouragement and advice are generously passed around from student to student. The students are not only learning from their instructors, but they are also learning a lot from each other when they meet inside the darkroom. In the darkroom, developing trays and tongs are all shared, and at some point in time, we each come in contact with another person's print."
Film photography may be considered outdated compared to digital photography, but for many students here at The Point, there can never be an equivalent to witnessing an image magically appearing from a coated blank sheet of paper right before their eyes.
<1>For further information regarding the International Center of Photography museum or school, visit www.icp.org or call 212-857-0000. For further information regarding ICP at The Point and/or upcoming spring/summer 2009 courses for preteens (ages 9-13) and teens (ages 14-19), visit www.thepoint.org or call 718-542-4149. Vantage Point 20: Change, at the Vantage Point Gallery will exhibit into the Fall 2009.
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