Success In Our Sights: 5 Years of Imagemaking

Jerriah James

Featuring: Onivya A., Jarriyas A., Brianna B., Willie B., Za’Myra B., Ja’Nya B., Mya C., Nyomi D., Gerarna F., Ayanna G., Tavon H., Jerriah J., Jada L., Brielle M., Makayla M., Ackayla P., Johnny P., Neilla P., Star R., Tvare S., Xastny T., Ben-Chris Y.

Success in Our Sights: 5 Years of Imagemaking showcases work by members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County under the guidance of Andrea Sarcos as the lead photography instructor. Her mission is to create the next generation of storytellers by empowering them to use the camera as a tool for self-expression, creativity, and exploration. Over the past five years, they’ve focused on storytelling through images, to expose facets of daily life that are meaningful to students in the ever-changing political and environmental climate of Florida.

As an artist-in-residence, Andrea has instructed hundreds of students to use digital cameras, tell a story visually, and intentionally explore their communities. Andrea and her students have created a variety of compositions showing daily life beyond the glittery facade of Palm Beach. Amidst poverty and struggle, these young photographers display sensitivity, dignity, and respect toward the city-scapes and residents they capture. Photography classes have served as a catalyst for these students to learn new forms of communication and share stories with their families, friends, and community. Photography students of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County produced shoots and modeled for each other; learned professional studio lighting; explored various photographic styles, including product photography and portraiture; and sequenced their pieces to tell compelling narratives on identity and culture.

About the Artists

These young artists learn from professional photographers and teaching artists to create and curate portraits of their daily lives and explore their curiosity about the cultures around them. Members build photographic books and zines and participate in local, regional, and national competitions and gallery shows, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Arts Contest and an annual juried show presented in partnership with Florida Atlantic University Galleries in Boca Raton, Florida.

Two standout artists are Tavon Henry and Ayanna Graham, who were both participants in the National Geographic Photo Camp, which took place in Venus, Florida, in 2022.

Tavon was born and raised in Delray Beach, Florida. His love for photography quickly grew when he joined the Boys & Girls Clubs’ photography program with teaching artist Andrea Sarcos. His passion for catching ephemeral moments is evident in his focus on portrait photography. For Tavon, the most fascinating thing about photography is its enchanting capacity to capture a moment in time and preserve feelings and memories. In the future, he hopes to establish a career by sharing his distinct viewpoint and documenting the beauty of life in all of its forms. In 2021, Tavon Henry’s photo, “We Made It,” was chosen by jurors of Florida District 22 as the winner of the U.S. Congressional Arts Contest; the framed print was hung in the U.S. Capitol for one year.

Ayanna Graham has been going to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County since she was five years old. Ayanna worked as a Junior Program Assistant at the Clubs’ Smith & Moore Family “Career Readiness” Teen Center in Belle Glade, Florida. She is a student at Palm Beach State College. To her friends and family, Ayanna was always the girl who would capture the moments you’d never want to forget. Her love for photography began at a very young age, and she entered her first photography competition in eighth grade. At the age of 15, advanced photography training at the Teen Center with teaching artist Andrea Sarcos opened her eyes to a whole new world. In 2021, Ayanna’s “The Future is Bright” photo was awarded the BGCA ImageMakers Best in Show award, the top national honor. In 2022, Ayanna was once again in the running for a national award with her photo, “The Seed of Intention.”

Organizations

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County

Founded in 1971, Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County (BGCPBC) currently operates 20 clubs, seven freestanding and 13 elementary, middle, and high school sites. BGCPBC is one of the largest Boys & Girls Clubs organizations in the world, serving 13,000 under-resourced youth annually. Our mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. The Cultural Arts Programs in our clubs allow members to explore the world of arts production, fully express themselves, and embrace the vibrant cultures of their communities through performance, visual, and digital arts disciplines. Our award-winning photography program, established in 2010, has achieved local recognition through exhibitions hosted by venues like Florida Atlantic University Galleries, the Dolly Hand Cultural Center, and Lighthouse ArtCenter, and national recognition from Boys & Girls Clubs of America, National Geographic, and the U.S. Congress. Budding photographers learn the mechanics of painting with light, operating digital SLR cameras, and working together in the studio and on location to achieve their collective creative vision. Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County is honored to showcase the artwork of these visionary young storytellers.
Photoville

Founded in 2011 in Brooklyn, NY, Photoville was built on the principles of addressing cultural equity and inclusion, which we are always striving for, by ensuring that the artists we exhibit are diverse in gender, class, and race.

In pursuit of its mission, Photoville produces an annual, city-wide open air photography festival in New York City, a wide range of free educational community initiatives, and a nationwide program of public art exhibitions.

By activating public spaces, amplifying visual storytellers, and creating unique and highly innovative exhibition and programming environments, we join the cause of nurturing a new lens of representation.

Through creative partnerships with festivals, city agencies, and other nonprofit organizations, Photoville offers visual storytellers, educators, and students financial support, mentorship, and promotional & production resources, on a range of exhibition opportunities.

For more information about Photoville visit, www.photoville.com
PhotoWings

We’re honored to continue our partnership with Photoville for our 8th consecutive year, and to celebrate Photoville’s 13th edition! Each year Photoville provides so many rich, unique, and diverse experiences in and around photography–PhotoWings is thrilled to help enrich this community as Education Partners.

Our mission is to highlight and help facilitate the power of photography to influence the world. We help photography to be better understood, created, utilized, seen, and saved. We are dedicated to utilizing the power of photography to further deep thinking, communication, and action.

The PhotoWings Outreach Program and our extensive media archive have myriad educational applications and possibilities, including projects from partners that cross disciplines, generations, and cultures. We also create toolkits/curricula for replication, adaptation and/or inspiration.

PhotoWings has partnered to document the Photoville Talks for the past five years, to expand the ways the global community can be a part of these important dialogues. Explore the collection of Photoville Talks today!

Be sure to check out all the Photoville Resources that have been supported in partnership with PhotoWings

And for more information about PhotoWings, you can visit http://photowings.org/