Faces and Places of Downtown Dutchtown
FACES AND PLACES OF DOWNTOWN DUTCHTOWN
Training: September 14 - October 14, 2010; Instructor Chinyere Oteh
Exhibition SITE #1: PPRC Gallery @ UMSL
November 16, 2010 - March 27, 2011
Exhibition SITE #2: Urban Eats Café & Arts Collective and store fronts in Downtown Dutchtown
(corner of Meramec St. and Virginia Ave.)
January 7 - March 30, 2011
Downtown Dutchtown in south St. Louis City was settled by German immigrants at the turn of the 19th century and is now home to many immigrant families from Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe. While slowly emerging from neglect -- the neighborhood is becoming known for its ethnic restaurants and specialty shops -- it is still troubled by poverty and crime. The Photography Project partnered with the Downtown Dutchtown Business Association, neighborhood residents, and youth to create three community Photography Project exhibitions. Photography Project Instructor, Chinyere Oteh, a Dutchtown resident, and Project Director, Mel Watkin, trained community participants to create photographs and autobiographical texts focused on their collaborative goals of building community pride, establishing positive relationships between business owners and neighborhood youth, and creating effective communication between residents and business owners. Photographs were exhibited at PPRC Photography Project Gallery on the UMSL Campus, at the Urban Arts Cooperative at Urban Eats Café in downtown Dutchtown, and additional photographs were enlarged and shown in 17 downtown Dutchtown storefronts.
-- Chinyere Oteh, Instructor
Participants/Partners:
Business owners, residents and youth
Toni C. Emery, Admissions Coordinator, Charless Home
Connie Backfisch, DSCC Interim Director, Dutchtown South Community Corporation
Steve Limmer, Owner, Crusoe's
Sue and Marty Luepker, Owners, The Feasting Fox
Maude Bauschard, Owner, Maude's Market
Terri Bearden, Owner, Merb's Candy
Rebecca Fox, Manager, ReFabulous
Lucy Hannegan, Manager, Twice Blessed Resale
John Chen, Co-Owner, Urban Eats Café/Urban Arts Collective
Caya Aufiero, Co-Owner, Urban Eats Café/Urban Arts Collective
Dan Winkelmann, Owner, Winkelmann's Drug
Jeannine Vaughn, Owner, Jeannine's Locks & Braids
Brandon Baker, Barber and painter, The Barber Shop
Bri Daniels, age 11
Ami Douglas, age 11
Sarra Agah, age 10