When 16 descendants of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians participated in a workshop by photographers Angelina Hernandez and Allen Garcia, none of them could have imagined it would evolve into a philanthropic movement.
But that’s exactly what’s happened.
During a one-week workshop in June of last year, the students learned basic photography skills. At the end of the week, they put on a successful exhibit of their work, called “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Photography by Shamala Youth.”
A year later, the exhibit continues to show in galleries, and the students have raised money for several worthy causes.
During the original workshop week last year, they learned basic photography skills—but they also visited with local leaders, spent time in nature on such field trips as hiking Nojoqui Falls, discussed social issues impacting the community, visited Bridge House Homeless Shelter, and talked about animal welfare.
What was extraordinary, said Education Director Dr. Niki Sandoval, was that the students themselves began talking about ways they could make a difference in their community and contribute to offsetting some of the negative issues.
Most of the student photographers are in classes somewhere in the 5th through 8th grade range.
Almiyi Aguilar, Madisen Bramsen, Kadyn Gianis, Angelina Hernandez, Sophia Ibarra, Raymond Lara, Hannah Lent, Matthew Lopez, Isabella Marshall, Olivia Pace, Jessica Preciado, Sarah Romero, Makya Saldivar, Ruben Saldivar, Destinee Silva, and Destiny Stevenson all have work in the exhibit.
The students framed their prints and sold them—and note cards featuring their images—at the initial exhibit. They began donating the proceeds to some of their favorite causes. So far, the students have raised more than $1,500 for such organizations as the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society and Growing Solutions Restoration Education Institute.
Sandoval, who previously handled Native American outreach for the Smithsonian, had been part of a Hopi Reservation workshop similar to the photography endeavor she conducted here. That show culminated in a photography exhibit—and that’s where it ended. But the idea stayed with Sandoval.
“It’s something you can do relatively easily, and it has a tremendous impact on students, as well as the community,” she said. “I’ve been inspired by that for a long time.”
The next show will be at the Grossman Gallery in Lompoc.
“The fact the exhibit has taken on a life of its own has been a wonderful gift,” Sandoval said.
Arts Editor Shelly Cone likes to see how youth can make a difference. Contact her at scone@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Aug 4-11, 2011.