By Robin O’Dell
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Children Develop Visual Literacy
Through Photography
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Through September 11
Florida Museum of Photographic Arts
Details here
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Young people today are inundated with imagery. Children are exposed to social media, video games and advertising pretty much everywhere they turn. Effective critical thinking and individual empowerment are more important than ever in this age of automation.
Since 2019, the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts (FMoPA) in downtown Tampa has been sending Education and Outreach Director Pierre Dutertre and educator and artist Cathy Dutertre into schools and community centers in Hillsborough County to empower children through photography.
They bring with them enough mini-cameras for each child to have their own. Each participant is taught not only how to take the best pictures with framing, filters and lighting, but to embrace and reflect what makes their own individual experience and points of view valuable.
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These children, who are often from under-served communities and sometimes dealing with learning disabilities and all levels of autistic hurdles, are encouraged to create something specific to their lives. They are asked to really look in an objective way, to communicate with one another and to respect others. When they regather with their images, they are taught to look at their work and the work of their peers with critical thinking. What makes this a good image and why?
Critical thinking plays an important role in education. It helps students to learn to analyze and evaluate and not just blindly accept what is being offered. It encourages students to solve problems. These are not always lessons that children are learning at home or in a traditional classroom.
At the end of the program the participants get to chose two photographs to have printed and bring home. This enforces their feelings of individual value and empowerment.
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Each year FMoPA celebrates the work done by these students with an exhibition of almost 500 of their photographs in the Community Gallery at the Museum. This allows the kids the additional opportunity to show off their work not just to their families – but to everyone who walks through the Museum’s doors. It also allows us a thrilling insight into the mind and experiences of a child.
Executive Director Zora Carrier agrees, “It’s always a pleasure to see the children’s work each year. It makes us at FMoPA happy to know that we can give back to the community by teaching the art form that we love most.”
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The Florida Museum of Photographic Arts is dedicated to exhibiting influential photographic art as central to contemporary life and culture. Founded in 2001, FMoPA occupies the atrium of the architecturally significant Cube building in Tampa’s Waterfront Arts District right next to Curtis Hixon Park. FMoPA believes that photography offers children an incredible opportunity to grow and acquire new skills, especially under-served children. This exhibition celebrates that endeavor.
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How can you participate? Come see the exhibition. Donate. Volunteer.
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A virtual exhibit is available online,
with selections from the full exhibition.
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