For Immediate Release Contact: Jennifer Williams jwilliams@themckennamuseum.com 504-586-7432
McKenna Museum Hosts Young Photographers Alliance Exhibition (June 13, 2013) The McKenna Museum will host an exhibition of photographs by members of the Young Photographers Alliance 2012 mentorship program. The exhibition features works exploring the theme of “Hometown” by Annie Wentzell, Nika B. Carter, Amanda Torres, Zach Breaux and Donna Viering. The show will be on view from June 29 till July 27, 2013, with an opening reception on Saturday, June 29 from 4-6pm. 2012 was the first year that a New Orleans team joined YPA’s international mentoring initiative. Their annual summer program pairs talented college students and recent graduates with leading photographers from throughout the U.S. and around the world. The mentoring program gives students the opportunity to work with successful photographers to fine-tune their craft, create images for their portfolios, develop business and marketing skills and explore markets for their work. Working within a tight set of guidelines, each mentor offers support and guidance to two to four mentees. Daymon Gardner and Jennifer Shaw served as mentors for the 2012 YPA NOLA team. They were joined by a series of guest speakers including Joshua Mann Pailet, George Long, Will Crocker, Frank Relle and Sue Strachen. Each addressed specific aspects of a photographic career, ranging from artist/gallery relationships to legal concerns. The McKenna Museum is located at 2003 Carondolet Street, New Orleans, LA 70130. Museum hours are Thursdays through Saturdays, from 11am – 4pm, and by appointment on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
About Young Photographers Alliance Founded in New York in 2009 by Jerry Tavin and Deborah Free, the Young
Photographers Alliance was created to inspire and empower young, gifted photographers. Led by industry professionals, YPA provides aspiring image-makers with access to the kind of practical industry knowledge, experience, resources, and contacts they need to build sustainable careers as photography professionals. YPA is unique in its focus on community and the fostering of direct, meaningful connections between emerging and established photographers. Their vision is to create powerful synergies between the two groups, recognizing that collaboration benefits both, and ultimately energizes and advances the profession as a whole. About The McKenna Museum The George & Leah McKenna Museum of African American Art is an institution that collects, interprets and preserves the visual aesthetic of people of African descent in North America and beyond. Through innovative programs and exhibits that engage versatile audiences, the McKenna Museum seeks to make African Diasporan fine art accessible to visitors of all ages. The institution also actively identifies and presents emerging artists alongside well-established fine arts masters. Featuring the private collection of Dr. Dwight McKenna, the Museum presents works by local and internationally-renowned artists such as Henry Ossawa Tanner, William Edouard Scott, Clementine Hunter, Ernie Barnes and Ulrich Jean Pierre. Located in New Orleans, the McKenna Museum is committed to the preservation of the distinct culture found within the African American community of Louisiana. ###