Art & Activism Series
2023
Words Have Power! Art workshop with Arts Westchester Teaching Artist Yohanna M. Roa, PhD.
Dr. Roa’s workshop focused on the written and spoken word and challenged teens to be curious about what their perception biases are. She discussed the work of Barbara Kruger pictured here.
Words Have Power! Climate Activist Marisa Rodriguez is one of the youngest members of the Federated Conservationists of Westchester. Because of her passion for change, she started the Youth Network at the Federated Conservationists of Westchester.
She spoke candidly with teens about how to find your passions and act on them.
WYA members gathered at YWCA of White Plains and Central Westchester to attend this public speaking workshop led by Tiffany Hamilton, CEO of WYCA and sought after thought leader. Members learned how to clearly identify and articulate their values, how to build critical thinking skills through debating ideas and left feeling empowered to vocalize their mission driven goals.
The final workshop was a youth-led workshop facilitated by WYA members about censorship. Members were invited to offer their input and critique the ideas represented in the workshop. This workshop was facilitated by local youth activists and was intended to create a space for youth to offer their input on the workshop presented at the HHREC's High School Leadership Institute. You can view the presentation for the workshop here.
2022
This 6 week workshop series inspired teens to use their smartphone cameras to create art that can be a catalyst for social action.
Interactive discussion: The project began with and interactive discussion about Gordon Parks on MLK day led by our skilled Program Director Chloe Fernandez. The Teens learned about Gordon Park's legacy of using his camera as a tool for both self expression and as a mirror to shine a light on social inequities in his time.
Six Sunday Workshops; Every Sunday teens met with the Program Director and a guest Photographer/Teaching Artist. During this time students learned how to use their smartphone's camera to explore relevant themes in their own lives and spent the next six weeks creating their own photo essays.
The Photographers/ Teaching Artists: who shared their personal photographic journey and taught a specific aspect of photographic technique or ways of seeing.
Ocean Morisset, An accomplished Arts Westchester Grant recipient who is a self-taught Gulf war Veteran. Ocean is a zen-like humanitarian who encouraged students believe in their ability to tell personalized stories through images. They will focused on composition, lighting, framing, capturing motion, saturation, the differences between narrative and street shooting.
Barry Mason, who met and photographed Gordon Parks is an esteemed teacher and accomplished photojournalist who will inspired as well as educated students about how to use their critical thinking skills when framing an image, as well as how to create a photo essay, and use techniques to create tone and depth of meaning in images.
Sara Bennett, who is both a criminal Justice lawyer and a photo documentarian of women who have been incarcerated will explore the nature of portraiture, building a portrait with a purpose, and establishing trust with your subject.
Ridvan Foxhall, is self-taught photographer who uses her images as part of a healing art process to spark joy in her life. She explored the ways in which photography can be a creative outlet and joyful practice in a deeply personal way to capture beauty and bring joy.
Framing and Prep for Public Speaking: At the end of the 6 weeks the teens gathered to critique each others work and help each other select their favorite images to frame for the Photography Show at the Bedford Playhouse. Once each teen has a framed image, all who were interested prepared to talk on stage about their work at the film talk-back panel discussion with the Film Producer, Monica Berra.
Teen Photography Show: The front lobby of the theater contains a small art gallery where WYA mounted a Teen Photography Show which was on display from April 6th through May 20th.
Film Screening: On April 6th, 2022 at 7 PM offered a community wide screening of the Gordon Parks Documentary “A Choice of Weapons ” produced by Kundhardt Films/HBO.