Heritage Preservation Youth Training Project
HERITAGE PRESERVATION YOUTH TRAINING PROJECT
Training: July 11 - September 4, 2005; Black World History Museum; Mel Watkin, Instructor
Exhibition SITE #1: PPRC Photography Project Gallery
September 21 - December 21, 2005
Exhibition SITE #2: Black World History Museum
September 15 - October 15, 2005
Website: www.thegriotmuseum.com
The Heritage Preservation Youth Training Program was established in 1997 by the Black World History Museum (now The Griot Museum of Black History and Culture). Each year high school students from across the city compete for six Black World History Museum summer internships to learn about the day-to-day operations of a museum. As Photography Project participants the six interns created their own photography exhibit at the museum. They were introduced to historic and contemporary portrait photographers and discussed how portraits, like the full size, historic wax figures in the museum's collection, can teach museum visitors about history. As their photography training sessions were coming to an end, participants helped the museum mount a major exhibition on African textiles. In response to the beautiful and complex fabrics, Ms. Watkin introduced the participants to the styles and techniques of two portrait studio photographers from Mali, Malick Sidib and Seydou Keta. Best known today for their work from the 1940s through the 1960s, they often took black-and-white photographs of subjects dressed in densely printed traditional clothing set against highly patterned backdrops. Keta and Sidib represent two different generations of West African portrait photographers and both men continue to love their role of making people look beautiful, reflecting dignity, grace and accomplishment.
--Mel Watkin, Instructor and Director
PPRC Photography Project
PARTICIPANTS:
Jenele Brooks, 16, Normandy Senior High School
Rodricka Elliot, 15, Metro Classical and Academic High School
Alana James, 14, McCluer Senior High School
Alexis James, 14, McCluer Senior High School
Gabriall Moore, 14, Lafayette Sr. High School
Ralph Tyler, 13, Christian Brothers College High School
COMMUNITY PARTNERS:
Black World History Museum (now The Griot Museum of Black History and Culture)