REA+CH program gets hands on

This year's REA+CH program focuses on photography.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- The artwork created by the participants of the fourth REA+CH program will go on exhibit at the McDonough Museum this weekend, coinciding with Youngstown State University Summer Festival of the Arts. REA+CH was founded by McDonough director Leslie Brothers in collaboration with the Just For Kids Program at the Ursuline Sisters Ministry, and is sponsored by the William Swanston Foundation.
Some of the goals of the program are to promote the advancement of learning, enrich the exchange of ideas and skills, address human and social issues, affirm the relevance of the arts in the community and strengthen and support university and community partnerships.
"REA+CH stands for residency, art, community, collaboration," says Brothers. "Reach is a good word because that is exactly what we are doing. The program began when Sister Sue [Durkin] approached me, looking for a way to connect the Ursuline program with an arts institution that was willing to develop an ongoing commitment for the kids, not just for one summer. I liked that, because we would be able to see over time how our interactions would affect change in their lives and the way they see themselves in the world."
Brothers said she didn't want to just arrange for art classes. The program needed to be a way for kids to become fully engaged. This also gave her an opportunity to establish a residency program at the McDonough, where a creative individual could be brought in.
This year's program
This year's program was designed by Phyllis Wharton, a photographer from Toronto. It has youngsters taking photos of people who have meaning in their life. Wharton visits every other week to aid the kids in the program, named "My People," after a poem by Langston Hughes. Local artist Angela Pandolph provides assistance throughout.
"Some of the photos will be on display at the exhibit, then the children will keep them as their own, or to share with friends," said Sister Sue. "The youth in this program are from inner city Youngstown and would otherwise not have an opportunity to ever be exposed to experiences like REA+CH. Each project over the years has brought forth growth, but this particular project has given the kids a pictorial history of people who are important in their lives." The age range of this year's participants are 11-16.
Each child received a camera, which they get to keep. "It is a wonderful camera called the Holga, made in China, that has been in production for about 30 to 40 years," said Wharton, who is teaching traditional black-and-white photography. "There is somewhat of a cult following for this camera, and the kids had no trouble learning how to use it. They had previously worked with digital photography, but this method of composing a portrait then taking it to the darkroom is a new experience for them. They have become so adept at darkroom skills. They are all accomplished artists, so they just do it."
Wharton feels that she has benefited the most from this experience. "This has been life altering for me," she said. "It has expanded my vision as a person and artist, reflected in my own work as greater depth, feeling, awareness, meaning."
The exhibit, "My People: A Photo Exploration of Connectivity and Community" will open at the McDonough Museum on Saturday and run through July 28. There will be an opening reception 2-4 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call the museum at (330) 941-1400 or logon to http://mcdonoughmuseum.ysu.edu.