3 minute read
Engaging senses
Student photograhers works with the Gett y
Melody Soto/ Roundup
Photographers, professors and friends gathered for Engaged Students Observers photography exhibition, celebrating the culmination of Pierce students’ photography class with the Getty Center.
Ten students who were enrolled in photojournalism courses from College of the Canyons, East Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Pierce colleges had the opportunity to work on a photography project with the Getty.
Students were able to work hand-inhand with Indian photographer Sudharak Olwe who led the workshop about photography and social documentary.
“Tonight as you can see is the culmination of the projects that they[ the students] produced” said Monika Del Bosque, gallery director and the assistant professor of art as she looked around the room with a smile.
As a student at Pierce who has only taken a couple of photo classes, Lorena Perez-Valladares really feels like she has learned a lot and is proud of herself as well as her classmate’s work.
Having a friend that is a firefighter Valladares was able to get behind the scenes of their life.
She feels as if she was able to express that through her photos.
“I’m really excited about it all coming together, we’ve been working on it for a couple of months now and it’s good to see everyone’s work out” said Valladares.
The room was filled with photos with captions and podcast which provided history and background information each photographer experienced.
“Everyone did something that went beyond what they were already capable of” said Gerard Burkhart who teachers photojournalism at Pierce College and Santa Monica College.
Burkhart describes social documentarily as the most powerful kind of still photography story telling that there is available ever.
Amber-Rose Kelly who has been in the department for two years had 7 pieces in the show.
“My favorite thing about the media department is that everything is really hands-on and run by the students”.
Students worked really closely with Olwe, an artist who was featured in the Getty Center last fall where he learned about the craft and art of documentary photography.
After that experience he then went off to do projects of his own explained Del Bosque.
The room was filled with over 30 people, food and refreshments were provided .
The event lasted from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Pierce College Art Gallery as every picture told a side to a story.
The photographs will still be on display through Thursday, April 21.
The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
