Sheldon Art Galleries: Saturday, 24 February 2007

AT&T Gallery of Children’s Art

Gairra Boyce, Age 11, Untitled, 2006, gelatin silver print, 8x10 inches

Project ImagiNeighborhood
February 24 – June 2, 2007

Since 1982, the North St. Louis Arts Council, headed by program manager Larry Clark, has promoted the discovery and development of artistic expression and talent with a wide range of community stakeholders. Partnering with schools and community groups, the North St. Louis Arts Council uses the arts to foster community identity and pride. Through Project ImagiNeighborhood, teams of photographers and writers have worked with neighborhood youth in a collective process to transform perceptions about the communities in which they live. The program has united the arts in everyday life with grassroots efforts in community stabilization and development.

Project ImagiNeighborhood captures the reflections and impressions of urban youth who have taken part in workshops which teach them practical photography and writing skills. The project is designed to foster new and positive relationships among neighbors across age, ethnicity, and income. The exhibition at the Sheldon Art Galleries brings together examples of work done by Project ImagiNeighborhood students from the last 10 years and celebrates the people and communities that have helped to create this unique and valuable document.