Fanny Cano/ Roundup
Photographers, professors and friends gathered for “Engaged Students Observers” exhibition, celebrating the culmination of Pierce students’ photography class with the Getty Center.
Ten students who were enrolled in photojournalism courses from College of the Canyons, East Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Pierce colleges had the opportunity to work on a photography project with the Getty.
Students were able to work hand-in-hand with Indian photographer Sudharak Olwe, who led the workshop about photography and social documentary.
“Tonight, as you can see, is the culmination of the projects that they [the students] produced,” said Monika Del Bosque, gallery director and assistant professor of art at Pierce, as she looked around the room with a smile.
As a student at Pierce, who has only taken a couple of photo classes, Lorena Perez Valladares really feels like she has learned a lot and is proud of herself as well as her classmates’ work.
Having a friend that is a firefighter, Valladares was able to get behind the scenes of their life. She feels as if she was able to express that through her photos.
“I’m really excited about it all coming together, we’ve been working on it for a couple of months now and it’s good to see everyone’s work out,” said Valladares.
The room was filled with photos with captions and podcasts which provided history and background information each photographer experienced.
“Everyone did something that went beyond what they were already capable of,” said Gerard Burkhart, who teaches photojournalism at Pierce and Santa Monica colleges.
Burkhart describes social documentary as the most powerful kind of still photography story telling that there is available.
Amber-Rose Kelly who has been in the department for two years had 7 pieces in the exhibit.
“My favorite thing about the media arts department is that everything is really hands-on and ran by the students,” said Kelly.
Students worked really closely with Olwe, an artist who was featured in the Getty last fall where he learned about the craft and art of documentary photography.
After that experience he then went off to do projects of his own explained Del Bosque.
The gallery was filled with more than 30 people, food and refreshments were provided.
The event lasted from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Pierce College Art Gallery.
The photographs will be on display until Thursday, April 21.
The gallery is opened from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday.