This fall, youth at Parrott Creek took part in a six-week photography class, and the results speak for themselves. Youth reflected that the class was a gateway to self-expression, capturing (as one youth put it), “how I see the world – like showing something only I could see.” Leah Lamb, Residential Program Manager, recast this as almost a communication tool, enabling youth “to express who they are and where they came from in a way that people can understand.”
Led by artist-in-residence Lisa Smith, the program embraced a teaching philosophy that emphasized the ready availability of photo-taking devices and the accessibility of the medium. Smith noted, “Not everyone can make great drawings, but everyone can take pictures.” Youth echoed this sentiment, with one participant expressing pride in their photos but adding, “I’m not really good at artwork, though.” Another youth noted that, “Before this class, I’d never thought about what I wanted to capture” – they would just point and shoot – “but now I think about every detail.” Exploring the camera’s various features to pushed participants to think about how to “highlight what mattered most in that moment,” shared one youth, rather than just taking a bunch of photos without thinking.
A particular highlight was a macro photography exercise that encouraged mindfulness and exploration. One youth described the experience as “seeing a new world” by just zooming in. The exercise left a lasting impression on Smith as well: “It stopped being moss and started to look like a forest. It was such a beautiful example of what happens when you slow down and really look.”
As the class concluded, participants showcased their work in an exhibition attended by several juvenile parole and probation officers, who attended to support youth on their caseload. The framed photographs were a source of pride and accomplishment. “I’d never seen something I made in a frame before. It made me feel like what I did mattered,” one youth said. Another reflected on the collective experience of seeing their art hanging on the wall: “We all started looking at each other’s photos differently, like appreciating what each of us saw and created.”
More than an art class, the photography program heightened their sense of community. “Before I came in here,” one youth reflected, “I was very narrow minded, and I thought like I knew everything. I quickly changed once I came here.” One youth decided to take the class after being pushed by one of his friends and reported finding joy in taking photographs alongside others – “creating something meaningful I can share.” Another echoed this: “I’m seeing them create something new, and then they’re seeing me watch them create something.”
