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Washington Advantage After School Student Artists Exhibit Their Pieces At JCC Reception

Pictured is the group of students from the Washington Middle School After School program who held an exhibition at JCC with their artwork.

Washington Middle School Advantage After School students recently became exhibiting artists when they held a reception at Jamestown Community College’s Sheldon Center outside of Weeks Gallery. More than 70 people attended to see the students’ photographic self-portraits and writing. Students completed the project as part of a program called The Best Part of Me through an Arts Education Grant from Tri-County Arts Council. The young photographers who exhibited were: Nate Barone, Naiomy Garcia, Conner Garcia, Kate Kathman, Jackson Kresge, Raegan Powers, Yeslimar Ramos-Lopez, Bianca Rojas, Yomaris Rojas, Gabrielle Seekings and Stavros Singleton.

The students worked with photographer, Cathy Panebianco, to create a piece of art that included a self-portrait and writing featuring their favorite body part. They collected ideas for their photograph by mapping memories and observations about the different parts of their bodies. They brainstormed additional ideas for their self-portraits by interviewing one another about their lives.

“I felt really excited to exhibit because it was the first time I’ve ever done anything like this and I’d also never been to JCC,” said Washington Middle School fifth grader Bianca Rojas. “I chose my skin color because I didn’t think anyone else would choose it and I love the color of skin. I think the project was good to do because there are some people who may not love every part of themselves but have to choose a part that is important to them and it may make them feel happy to know that they have something positive about themselves.”

With the help of JPS Technology Integration Coach, Jason Kathman, students used Apple iPads to take the photographs, learned to edit their work and wrote their stories using Apple Pencils.

“It was pretty cool exhibiting, ” said Washington Middle School seventh grader, Stavros Singleton, who chose his arm and “live happy” band as the focus of his self-portrait. “It was great to see people come up and look at your photograph. I think it also helps get kids involved in the arts. I feel like I accomplished something doing this project and I learned about photography and the process of taking a self-portrait. I really learned how to compose my photographs and convey a message to my audience.”

Pictured is a piece from the reception made by Connor Garcia.

The Best Part of Me project is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered by Tri-County Arts Council.

“I am in awe of the pieces created by the students in this exhibit,” said Amanda. Gesing, JPS Grants & Community Liaison. “This has been a wonderful opportunity for students in our afterschool program. Not only did they get an opportunity to learn a little about each other, they practiced some self-reflection as well. The students really put a lot of love and effort into the photographs, and the result are really inspirational and honest. It is not everyday that students have an opportunity to work with an accomplished photographer like Cathy Panebianco. I want to thank her for spearheading the project and bringing an opportunity like this to the school. I also want to thank Jason Kathman for his support in the program and Patricia Briggs from JCC’s Weeks Gallery for collaborating with us to exhibit the artwork and providing students and families and opportunity to visit the campus.”

The Best Part of Me will also be offered to students in the Jefferson Advantage After School Program this spring.

Bianca Rojas is pictured with her exhibition piece.

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