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An audio and visual exhibit that opens Friday promotes Youngstown
Audio and visual display focuses on Youngstown
YOUNGSTOWN
As part of a rebranding campaign for Youngstown, a new exhibit – “The City of You | Visual Stories of Youngstown” – will open at 6 p.m. Friday at the M Gallery at Erie Terminal Place, 112 W. Commerce St.
The audio and visual exhibit includes large graphic design and photo posters along with interviews with the people photographed about the positive stories of the changing city, said RJ Thompson, who is among those organizing the event.
Thompson serves as director of Youngstown Design Works, a group of Youngstown State University students who do graphic design, and is a YSU assistant professor of graphic and interactive design.
“Design Works’ goal is to promote the city and what’s here,” he said. “This is a full-on multimedia campaign focused on visual and audio.”
The opening reception is from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, and runs through Sept. 23. The M Gallery’s hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and from 1 to 7 p.m. Thursdays. The show is free.
The show will open with about 15 posters and the opportunity to hear the stories of those photographed. Each conversation is about 30 minutes long, Thompson said.
As the show progresses, Thompson said people are invited to be interviewed and become part of the exhibit.
“I want people to know they can come down to not only see the show, but to participate in it,” he said.
After the show ends, Thompson said the posters will be displayed throughout the city.
“The City of You” concept, developed by Thompson and Design Works students, began about a year ago as a tool to market Youngstown. The effort includes marketing vacant land and attracting businesses to the city.
The strategy offers a future-focused effort to promote the city’s growth by advertising and marketing Youngstown on a variety of media platforms, Thompson said.