“Unpacking Impact” Unit at Street Academy: 28th Annual ArtEsteem Exhibition Series
ArtEsteem's 28th Annual Exhibition is just one day away!
In this final exploration before the big day, we're shining a spotlight on our Digital Media class at Oakland Emiliano Zapata Street Academy for their Unpacking Impact photography unit.
If you missed the previous exploration, check out Cultural, Political, & Environmental Art at Greenleaf TK-8 & West Oakland Middle!
When crafting his curriculum for the school year, Teaching Artist JD wanted to use the medium of photography to help his students identify and process how they are impacted by their built environment and lived experiences, and how those aspects of life are impacted by them in return.
JD developed lessons where the primary goal was getting outside and taking in The Town. The learnings from these "photo walks" were enhanced by historical, technical, and cultural context taken in through field trips to physical spaces like the Oakland Public Library and the Oakland Museum of California archives, and digital spaces like the University of California's Calisphere, a primary source database.
“A lot of them have never held a physical picture of their own. We print photos in class,” JD explained during our class progress interview. With most students owning smartphones, the interest surrounding photography as an art form has dwindled. JD intends to bring intentionality back into photographic practice, and with it, a reflection of the self.
The students are moved by JD's call to look within themselves, focus on the present, and capture small yet significant moments.
Carol, a 10th grader, writes in an artist statement, "I enjoy the process of noticing small things and turning them into something important through my work. Through my art, I want people to feel a sense of connection, warmth, and appreciation for the little things in life. Most importantly, my work reflects how much I genuinely enjoy creating and sharing what I see."
Fellow 10th grader Jaydee feels similarly: "Taking these pictures shows how powerful a single moment can be when you pause long enough to notice it."
JD elaborates on his experience working with his students: “Kids nowadays are different. They have different priorities, different interests, different value systems. Different things have impacts on them.” In speaking to the unique experiences and issues youth face in the current era, he acknowledges the significance of the evolution and accessibility of technology. Linking the two within his curriculum makes for an effective, educational, and fundamentally, relatable art practice.
It’s clear that JD takes his role as a teacher and a mentor with weight as he delves further into his experiences with his students. He astutely concludes that, “Any space where people care about the kids… that matters. It’s important for them to know somebody cares. They get this negative energy pushed at them from every direction all day long, I think it’s important for any of us that can push that positive energy to counteract the negative as much as we can.” With that statement, it’s hard not to agree that giving these students a safe space to explore their own experiences through self expression is crucial.
This marks the final installment of the 28th Annual ArtEsteem Exhibition Series.
We hope to see you at the 28th Annual ArtEsteem Exhibition tomorrow!