The 2nd Annual Art & Activism Youth Photography Series, “Inspired by Gordon Parks,” took place at the Gordon Parks Foundation Gallery. This event highlighted the work of talented youth photographers who completed the 6-part series and presented their personal photo narratives and shared how WYA uses the arts as a vehicle to bring youth together across differences and explore issues of social justice and community building.
The event was generously underwritten by both Arts Westchester and the Westchester County Board of Legislators.
Maya Aldana
My story behind my photos is that I wanted something that wasn’t staged but looked as natural as if two kids are lost in play. My brothers and I both attend theater camp at Sarah Lawrence Collage, and on our way out, my brothers and I always play around on a big rock and platform. As you see in these photos, my brothers showed their own personalities in their own ways. Even though I am 12, it always reminds me that I am still a kid, and I should get time to play and be free while I am still becoming mature. That should apply to others because even if it doesn’t look like it, you are still a child and you need to enjoy playing as much as you can. I always had the idea of Let Kids Be Kids in my mind because it is so true, so many kids, no matter how old or young, need to let energy out and play freely.
Morgan Ayo
I wanted people to think about Mental Health. When people look at my photographs they can’t really tell what it is supposed to be. Is it just two pictures in black and white? What is the meaning behind it? In my images I wanted to show the unawareness in our society regarding Mental Health. In one photo I am smiling. In the other photo my brother has a straight face. Both photographs are in black and white. The topic of Mental Health has been a recurring issue for the longest time. It used to be taboo but over the past few years it has been more prominent. My photographs capture how there could be no difference in emotions between a happy/smiley person and the stereotypical “emotionless” person. Both being in black and white resembles the gloom that could be within a person without realizing. Regardless of how they seem on the outside they could be in so much pain on the inside. Please check on the people in your environment. Those you call friends, family and just your everyday acquaintance.
Roxie Bloom
Throughout the development of social media and the concept of an “online presence,” society has found itself an interesting dilemma: that of separating the grossly unrealistic standards we are exposed to online from the often harsher realities of the world we live in. This has proved to be a more interesting challenge than we once foresaw, and the psychological detriments of constant exposure to internet perfection has found a host in the impressionable minds of the teenager. Today’s teens are relegated with an unrelenting stream of content from apps like TikTok or Instagram where this content seems to go on and on forever. I, like many of my peers, have found it exhausting and frustrating to be living in this sphere of negativity and capitalistic creation cycle, so I took this frustration and decided to put it somewhere positive: by taking photos of my friends, the people I love, as a way to free myself from the restraints of social media. This project, to me, serves as a reminder of what lies ahead and a reminder to focus on what matters. By pushing away the ideologies imprinted onto us by our feeble screens, we might be prompted to look at our surroundings in a new light: to see the beauty in the people who care about us and who remind us who we are. So deep into this cycle, it is often difficult to withdraw from the comfort and validation that can come with an online platform, but this change is one that will propel us toward a better future. In this future, people can be beautiful without fear of a standard- and the beauty I see in the everyday people I meet can one day become the beauty we see in this world as a whole.
Nia Griffin
Nature is the theme of my photographs. Too often, we take nature for granted as we go about our busy lives. However, nature can offer us a reprieve from our daily stress. Studies have shown that observing nature can significantly reduce our levels of cortisol, which is the body’s stress hormone. We just need to take some time to appreciate the beauty around us, from breath-taking sunset hues, to the glorious brilliance of the moon, to the rejuvenating wonders of the soothing rain. Nature always deserves a closer look because in these moments we find peace, happiness and reflection. My photographs captured those moments, when I quieted my busy thoughts and allowed myself to be fascinated by the amazing display and balance of nature, and my connection to our beautiful world.
Michelle Jones
“A moment to ourselves” is a piece I created in the midst of my second semester at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Embarking on this new chapter of my life has allowed me to reflect on the person I was and who I am becoming. I embarked on my journey of activism at the age of 11 in 2016. After almost 10 years of work I found I gravitated to matters concerning Civil Rights, Women’s Rights and community building. There are MANY things I could list pertaining to what I’ve worked on in that time however, that’s not what this project is about. This project is about who I am in a perspective that is removed from advocacy. The photos represent parts of my identity. The photo of yarn resents me, the student. The photo was taken in the knitting room of my college. I liked the colors of the yarn and the non-uniformity of the sizes or yarn. The photo with the steam doesn’t really have a meaning, I liked it so I added it. I think there’s beauty in things that don’t make sense or have meaning, they exist to simply exist and I find that fascinating. The blurry photo represents the loneliness and uncertainty I feel about life. Sometimes I wish life would just stand still for a moment however, life is always move, it’s always ever changing. Nothing lasts forever in this lifetime, it's important to make the best of it while never forgetting you’re in control. My project was made to give the viewing a break from what’s going on and reflect on who they are. I encourage all those who are viewing to “take a moment to themselves,” take photos of whatever makes them happy or what makes you think. Embrace all that life has to offer and put yourself first.
Monday Lerner
For my exhibit, Teens in Activism in Everyday Life, I wanted to show teenagers who were involved in social movements or volunteer for social causes having fun. Oftentimes, when we talk about young people who care about the world, we don’t show that parts of their life that are normal or fun. We forget that being socially active doesn’t make you any less of a teenager, on the contrary fighting for social justice is a fundamental part of being young. Having fun and feeling happy is what allows true activism to be genuinely passionate.
Amber Prado
Every day, teenagers experience a wide range of emotions. Whether they are feeling overjoyed or are struggling inside, they each have their own separate stories that explain what had led to that moment. Through research and a survey that I have conducted in my high school, I’ve found that most teens are undergoing levels of stress no matter how major they feel it is. One student even quoted, “Every day I feel more like a ghost than a human.” Just this statement alone encompasses feelings of loneliness and insecurity, which is a sentiment that so many teens are currently struggling with. Students have also been shown to feel overwhelmed by school related issues such as grades or troubles in education. In my own experience, I have and also seen others my age submerge themselves in schoolwork, extracurriculars and more which leads them to becoming completely burnt out. At programs in Yonkers such as YPIE, I see many of the older students spend all of their time doing loads of work. That being said, it’s clear to understand how teenagers mental health will be impacted. With my photos in particular, I hope to depict all of these overwhelming emotions in teens as well as invoke the feeling of togetherness as the viewer may be able to relate to some of the people presented just as I did.
