1/24/2007 - "Through Her Eyes" Exhibit
Youth Photographers Capture Latino Essence in “Through Her Eyes” Photo Exhibit
at Austin Children’s Museum
Austin, Texas (January 24, 2007) – This January and February, Latinitas will partner with the Austin Children’s Museum to celebrate Hispanic culture in a special “A Través De Su Mirada/Through Her Eyes” exhibit. The exhibit showcases the artwork of Austin residents ages 11 to 18 from Latinitas after-school clubs, a local youth program that uses media education to empower Latina youth. The exhibit will be featured in the Community Gallery at the Austin Children’s Museum through February 26th.
“A Través De Su Mirada” presents a vibrant, expressive and fascinating portrait of the Latina community in Austin as depicted by youth photographers from Blacksheer Elementary, Martin Middle, Fulmore Middle, Pearce Middle, Webb Middle, and TravisHigh Schools.
“The goal of the exhibit is to provide a forum for self-expression and give youth a voice,” says Laura Donnelly, Latinitas co-founder and after-school program coordinator. “Another aim of the exhibit is to encourage viewers to look for commonalities between the experiences shown in the photographs and their own lives in an effort to develop cultural awareness and understanding.”
“We are happy to be hosting this unique and personal exhibit,” says Cybil Gustafson, Gallery Education Manager at Austin Children’s Museum. “By featuring the photographic talent of these young women, we hope to not only foster cultural awareness, but also inspire young visitors to the Museum to tap into their own creative potential.”
“Through Her Eyes” Opening Celebration, Wed., Feb. 7th, 6:00-8:00pm activities include:
· Hands-on activities celebrating Latino culture
· Live cultural entertainment
· Several youth artists will be available to discuss their work
Last fall, the students were given digital photography equipment and instruction on how to use cameras to document their personal impressions of Latina life in Austin. The youth met once a week to master multi-media expression through writing, graphic design, photography, web design, radio production, and filmmaking skills. After two months of picture taking, meetings and vibrant discussions, the resulting photos strikingly depict the people, places and events that make up their neighborhoods.
“The girls took hundreds of photos and helped us narrow down the selection to create an image-rich mosaic that will leave an imprint on the minds and heart of viewers,” says Alicia Rascon, co-founder of Latinitas and a staff member at the Austin Children's Museum. “Through the camera lens, the young photographers captured the Latino essence and revealed their unique perspectives and dreams.”
The “Through Her Eyes” photo exhibit will run through February 26th and is included with Museum admission.
ABOUT LATINITAS: Latinitas, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and empowerment of Latina youth through media. Latinitas publishes www.latinitasmagazine.org, a bilingual webzine by and for Latina pre-teens and teenagers. The magazine is geared toward informing, entertaining and inspiring young Hispanic girls to grow into healthy, confident and successful women. Through community workshops, internship programs, media conferences, and after-school clubs, Latinitas empowers Latina youth to express themselves and connects them with role models and mentors who guide them in building their confidence and self-esteem. For more information, visit www.latinitasmagazine.org.
ABOUT AUSTIN CHILDREN’S MUSEUM: The mission of Austin Children's Museum is to create innovative learning experiences for children and families that equip and inspire the next generation of creative problem solvers. Located at the DellDiscoveryCenter downtown at the corner of 2nd Street and Colorado, the Austin Children's Museum is one of the city’s popular cultural attractions with 200,000 visitors annually. The Austin Children's Museum is a non-profit 501c3 organization and all donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
For more information on the exhibits and programs at the Austin Children’s Museum, visit www.austinkids.org or call 512-472-2499.
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Press Contact: Julie Almaguer, Marketing & Communications Manager
Austin Children's Museum
512-472-2499 ext. 274
512-507-3770 (cell)