Athens Photographic Project: Being In Nature

On Exhibit in the Small Meeting Room from September 14th thru June 11th.

Meet the Artists Reception: Tuesday, October 17th, at 6:00pm.

2022’s summer youth photo classes ostensibly worked under the theme of Being in Nature and focused on taking the youth on field trips to natural locations around Athens County. Our community youth class ventured out to the bike path, West State Street Park, the Community Gardens, Emeriti Park, the Ridges, Sell’s Park, and Oregon Ridge Pond. The youth at Bassett House — a residential addiction treatment facility here in Athens County — were able to photograph near the facility and take walks around their neighborhood to explore the environment and see the unique in the ordinary.

At the end of classes, many of the youth expressed how much the class had meant to them, and how a big part of the experience was simply exploring nature. One explained, "Photography has helped me go outdoors more often. And to add on to that, I now notice the smaller and more unnoticeable things in nature. I am able to take a second and analyze my surroundings.” Others noted how photographing was a reflective process, like this artist who said that photography "helped me connect with my inner self."

Although many stuck to the theme of Being in Nature, some did not. Since our most important goal was self-expression and the youth are given complete freedom to photograph as they please, we talked about how one could invert the chosen theme of Being in Nature to approach photographing as an investigation of the Nature of Being. Some kids took to this idea more strongly, perhaps photographing autobiographically or taking an image that expressed an inner ideal. Either way, they explored the visual world, they took photographs, they expressed themselves, and they experienced the profound effect of the arts. Their work contributes equally to the cohesive whole of the exhibit. 

For all these kids, we are proud and excited to share their work with you in this exhibition. Their pictures are beautiful and bold, calm and real, stark and subtle, tender and true. -- Josh Birnbaum,Youth Photo Program Facilitator