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Vistas del Campo |   |
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 My House Camp is the fifth in a series of exhibits of artwork by area migrant children and features photographs of "el camp" - the temporary homes these students share with their families during the seasonal fruit harvests. From the edges of orchards which line the camps, makeshift playgrounds and glorious portraits, to stunning skyscapes and vistas this area is famous for, these photos depict another vision of Leelanau and Benzie counties, and the vivid components of an itinerant homelife. Following a photography workshop in July, in which students were introduced by photographer Hallie Levine to the concepts of framing and composition, each student produced a "portrait" of one of their shoes with a PolaroidTM out on the playground. The students were then given their own disposable camera, a treasure hunt list of photos to take outside of school, and two days to complete their assignments. The first image was to be a picture of themselves taken by a friend, followed by a list of twenty-three subjects that included "something in a row, a building, two people talking, something peaceful, something red, someone older than you, your favorite place, your favorite thing"... The last four shots were "things you find interesting." What you see here is a selection of the many truly successful pictures that came back. These photos have a common theme, which is a contemplation of the students' everyday surroundings, mirrored by a distinct memory of their primary homes and their journeys to this region, which span Mexico and the Rio Grande Valley, parts of Florida, on up through the Midwest to Leelanau and Benzie county farms.  Through the summer of 2000, the Glen Arbor Art Association offered arts workshops by professional Michigan artists in a variety of media to students ages 7-14 at Northwestern Michigan Migrant Education Project's summer school in Suttons Bay. In these classes, students chose multiple formats through which to communicate their impressions of northern Michigan, where their parents are engaged in the cultivation, harvest, and processing of this region's premium crops: cherries, strawberries, grapes, apples, and other fruits and vegetables. Vistas del Campo is a Rural Arts & Culture Project sponsored by the Glen Arbor Art Association and the Northwestern Michigan Migrant Education Project, with generous support from the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs, and the Glen Arbor Women's Club. We wish to also thank Midge Obata, Jean Franco, and Sharon and Bob Pettus for their original vision and support of these classes.
Andrea Stupka, Project Director | |||
