New Badger Art Gallery opens Saturday with student photos

 

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“A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know.”

These words, shared by ar­tist-photographer Diane Ar­bus with students in the late 1960s, were included in the workbooks created for Coarse­gold Ele­mentary students by Oak­hurst artist Terrance L. Reimer.

He says his idea turned the youth into story-telling photojournalists.

Part of their documentary photo project, “Eye am a Cam­era — Exposures for Edu­ca­tion,” will be shown as the first exhibition in the brand-new Badger Art Gallery, Room 300, at Yosemite High School opening on Satur­day [January 26] from 6-8 p.m.

More than 100 “provocative and profound secrets,” says Mr. Reimer, “will be brought to life in photographs taken by 28 students.” His workbooks provided them with basic photography pointers and inspirational quotations and goals of the project.

It was Mr. Reimer’s idea to put cameras in the hands of local students. He was asked to give an informal presentation about art and photography to Victoria Glines’ class at the Coarsegold School.

He brainstormed the project concept the night before he met the students.

“I wanted to share my passion and love of art and photography with the fresh eyes and minds of the students. This project gives kids a visual voice with cameras — empowering them to take a keener look at their world,” he says.

He approached Doug Dear­ing, Yosemite Bank vice president-manager, to underwrite the project with a $100 grant. He and Chris Grizz of the Yosemite Bank’s Coarsegold branch obliged, to set the project in motion.

The workbooks were made by Mr. Reimer, “to guide the students while they were on the prowl for dynamic, interesting pictures.”

He included images from his own photojournalism portfolio as well as a list of picture idea-assignments for the young people to capture on film.

The cameras were collected and the film was processed. Upon returning to the class with the finished pictures, Mr. Reimer selected a few of his favorites.

He had an open critique session with the students to praise their work.

“The images captured by the students blew my mind. They have created a very powerful, thought-provoking visual statement,” he comments.

The location of the showing is the culmination of a three-year-long dream of art teacher Rivka Schaffner, through the hard work and dedication of Yosemite High senior Sabrina Coulombe, Art Club president.

Her senior project has been to create, organize and complete the gallery space, which brought together students, family and friends to realize the teacher’s dream.

“This is the football stadium for the arts!” Sabrina exclaimed.

The gallery showcases the best artwork from students. It also boasts a gift shop, offering for sale student paintings, drawings, watercolors, ceramics, sculp­tures, handmade jewelry and clothing, musical instruments and handmade cards, paper and books.