Factory Fellowship

Winter 2023

January - March

The Factory Fellowship builds positive relationships through photography. Self-motivated teens are welcomed into this photo mastery program to work one-on-one with mentor photographers. Together, they explore topics of interest to craft a series of photography that centralizes the student’s curiosity, intent, and unique perspective. Students have opportunities to connect with other students, mentors, and clients. A community is built where dialogue, critique, research, and support can take place. Individual creative voice is developed on photo shoots, all while discussing the process and sharing inspiration. Young photographers receive a stipend for their creative service, and exhibition opportunities are offered. Thank you to the Cleveland Foundation for their support of this program.

MENTOR PHOTOGRAPHERS:

Lexi Deet Mary Defer Cara Gaetano Aja Grant

Arfil Pajarillaga Joseph Pocs McKinley Wiley Kaliban Zehe

TEEN PHOTOGRAPHERS:

Daija Day Makayla Day Nathan Dewey

Lily Herlihy Sienna Jackson Zaviana Lane

Lonny McLaughlin Milo Parsh Maya Peroune

DAIJA DAY, with mentor Arfil Pajarillaga

MAKAYLA DAY, with mentor Arfil Pajarillaga

NATHAN DEWEY, with mentor Joseph Pocs

LILY HERLIHY, with mentor Joseph Pocs

SIENNA JACKSON, with mentor Arfil Pajarillaga

ZAVIANA LANE, with mentor Kaliban Zehe

LONNIE McLAUGHLIN, with mentor Lexi Deet

MILO PARSH, with mentor Arfil Pajarillaga

MAYA PEROUNE, with mentor McKinley Wiley

factory fellowship

Cleveland Print Room’s year-round photo mentoring program

MENTOR PHOTOGRAPHERS:

Bridget Caswell Doriyan Coleman Kenyatta Crisp Lexi Deet Mary Defer Brittany Dobish Atefeh Farajolahzadeh

Cara Gaetano Aja Grant Helen Harry Arfil Pajarillaga Joseph Pocs McKinley Wiley Kaliban Zehe

Melinda Placko, Fellowship Manager

TEEN PHOTOGRAPHERS:

Rebecca Abramovich Delvonte Allen Scout Bach Fick Bimenyimana Margaux Butzback

Autumn Christian Makayla Day Jayden DeVaughn Nathan Dewey Haleymarie Eisentraut Tevyah Hanley Wendell Henry

Lily Herlihy Sienna Jackson Vidula Jambunath Kate Jaycox Satya Lane Zaviana Lane Simone Larsen

Lonny McLaughlin Gabrielle Murray Kylah Newell Leila Metres Noel Pacheco Milo Parsh Maya Peroune Ida Rausche

fall project 2022

Scout Bach, with mentor Cara Gaetano

MARGAUX BUTZBACK, WITH MENTOR JOE POCS

Fick Bimenyimana, with mentor CAra gaetano

Autumn Christian, with mentor kenyatta crisp

Jayden DeVaughn, with Mentor Kaliban Zehe

NATHAN DEWEY, WITH MENTOR JOE POCS

lily herlihy, with mentor joe pocs

Lonny McLaughlin, with mentor Lexi Deet

Vidula Jambunath, with mentor mary defer

Zaviana lane, with mentor Kaliban Zehe

as the obscure encroaches, you feel as all control is lost, but know it will never fully consume you

simone larsen, with mentor lexi deet

maya peroune, with mentor mckinley wiley

Ida Rausche, with mentor Cara Gaetano

Screen Shot 2022-12-13 at 2.27.44 PM.png

DEDICATED TO TYLER ZELENY
This series is dedicated to a man who had a profound impact in my life as a photographer. I dove into photography because of him, I am who I am as an artist because of him. In June of 2022, I lost this figure to a disease that is so silent yet so painful, suicide. Through this black and white digital series, I explore the thought of what happens when we die. Where do we go? How do we go on? Self portraits explore the inner dialogue one has exploring death. The final image is of a silk screen print of a tree, exploring the idea of what is seen above and below. -Ida

summer project 2022

Scout Bach, with mentor cara gaetano

Rebecca Abramovich, with mentor Atefeh Farajolahzadeh

Margaux Butzback, with Atefeh FarAjolahzadeh

Summer is Closing, Summer is closing, And so with the pool, And all of the people, Staying there to keep cool.

Summer is closing, Unlike our school doors, That unlock as the teachers, Prepare lessons once more.

Summer is closing, Bringing forth a brisk breeze. Fall time is approaching, As we prepare for the freeze.

Summer is closing, And I don’t have a doubt, That I’m not prepared, But I’ll figure it out.

Summer is closing, As we wait once more, For the next summer, and what it has in store.

Jayden devaughn, with mentor joseph pocs

haleymarie eisentraut, with mentor cara gaetano

Wendell henry, with mentor joseph pocs

vidula jambunath, with mentor mary defer

kate jaycox, with mentor joseph pocs

Ameritrust Building Captain America (A).jpg

Ameritrust Building Captain America (B).jpg.JPG

Lakeview Cemetery Captain America (A).jpg

Lakeview Cemetery Captain America (B).JPG

The Cleveland Art Museum Atrium (S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters) (A).jpg

The Cleveland Art Museum Atrium (S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters) (B).JPG

Kate photographed locations in Cleveland used in the Avengers movie. Displayed here are her photographs beside stills from the movie.

simone larsen, with mentor lexi deet

lonny mclaughlin, with mentor lexi deet

gabrielle murray, with mentor brittany dobish

I was seven when I was given a small purple camera. This dainty little pink “point and shoot camera” fit perfectly in my first grade hands and point and shoot is exactly what I did. I don’t think I even looked through the lens most of the time. I photographed everything, from ants in the yard to zebras at the zoo. It wasn’t long before I moved to more personal subjects like my family and friends. I was always shoving the camera in peoples’ faces. I later got another small pink camera. The same experience applied, and now if I was without my camera, my family and friends asked where it was. The pink camera and many images followed me everywhere. It wasn’t long into my preteen years when my dad got me a camera with an extending lens. It was this camera that helped me do more than I ever thought imaginable with photography. By this point, it was no longer about point and shoot. Now, I could zoom into birds in far away trees, control new settings, and I was able to better frame subjects with the screen built in. With my new camera also came new opportunities. I got involved with the Cleveland Print Room and the possibilities, like I had with my camera, were endless. I got my first Canon DSLR camera near the middle of high school. This camera was (and still remains) my first “professional” camera: I could change the lenses, zoom in close or far away, change aperture and ISO, and more than I ever thought imaginable. In a matter of months, I was enrolled in many photography classes, had professional opportunities, could use many other types of cameras, and felt like a professional. If I wasn’t known as the photographer with everyone I knew before, I really was now. Photography has given me an outlet, a confidence I didn’t know I had, a ton of new relationships, and new skills across the board. I can’t wait to see how my future photography develops and what’s to come.

kylah newell, with mentor aja grant

noel pacheco, with mentor brittany dobish

I have lived in Cleveland all my life. I am a 19 year old photographer that loves to travel. I have always wanted to travel since I was little. 2022 was the year when this dream came true. This summer, I have traveled to 3 different countries and one of those trips I took was to Mexico alone. This was my first ever trip alone out of the country. And I am so glad I did so. I felt like I found myself through the vibrant culture and very kind hearts of the people of Mexico. I was able to reignite my artistic flame that I feel I lost after graduating high school. Ever since starting college, I have not had the chance to explore and capture the world as I had done before. Walking around the ancient city of Teotihuacan, exploring the beautiful nature of Temescalapa, and exploring the natural pools of Tola Tongo, opened my eyes again to the many facets of life and how I can capture them through the lens of my camera.

maya peroune, with mentor bridget caswell

spring fellowship exhibition 2022

In this year-round mentoring program, positive relationships are built on photography. Mentor photographers encourage interested youth as new photography is created. This online exhibition featuring their work is offered every spring, summer and fall. Individual creative voice is developed on photo shoots, while discussing the process and sharing inspiration. The fellowship community gathers to exchange ideas throughout each season. A book documenting the fellowship is published annually, and young photographers receive a stipend for their creative service.

MENTOR PHOTOGRAPHERS:

Aja Grant

Lexi Deet

Mary Defer

Arfil Pajarillaga

Kaliban Zehe

Melinda Placko, Fellowship Manager

YOUTH FELLOW PHOTOGRAPHERS:

Fick Bimenyimana

Gabrielle Murray

Haleymarie Eisentraut

Kylah Newell

Leila Metres

Lonny McLaughlin

Milo Parsh

Nathan Dewey

Rebecca Abramovich

Satya Lane

Tevyah Hanley

Zaviana Lane

Fick Bimenyimana, with Mentor Mary Defer

kylah newell, with mentor aja grant

At first I wanted my project within this fellowship program to represent nothing but black love. My pictures are heavily inspired by Kennedi Carter, I was aiming to express intimacy through closeness in my images. I believe I achieved that through my self portraits and portraits that were supposed to represent self love and love between a black man and black woman that I feel like my community needs the most in my opinion. I truly enjoyed what I created and hope to continue the project I started called, "the love that misery hates to see".

Leila Metres, with mentor Aja Grant

As a photographer, I believe that art is nothing if not a product of culture. This visual essay about the Cedar-Lee area aims to paint a picture of the area’s culture while drawing attention to often overlooked locations and objects. This collection has a variety of bright-colored photos that contrast with darker-colored photos, representing diversity and irregularity. These images also point out the beauty in places one wouldn’t look to find it, like out on the street and in between alleyways. There are many interesting places and people in Cedar-Lee that come to light only when we take a minute to slow down and capture them in their liminality.

lonny mclaughlin, with mentor lexi deet

milo parsh, with mentor arfil Pajarillaga

nathan dewey, with mentor lexi deet

rebecca abramovich, with mentor melinda placko

satya lane, with mentor aja grant

I chose to do black and white film photography because I like the feel of manually putting the film in, advancing the film to take a photo, and having a whole manual process to go with taking the photos. I also chose black and white film photography because the fact that the photos are black and white makes them more sentimental.

tevyah hanley, with mentor melinda placko

zaviana lane, with mentor kaliban zehe

FALL FELLOWSHIP Exhibition 2021

MENTOR PHOTOGRAPHERS:

Aja Grant

Bridget Caswell

Lexi Deet

Mary Defer

Jef Janis

Tia Janis

Arfil Pajarillaga

Kaliban Zehe

Melinda Placko, Fellowship Manager

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Coniah hanley, working with Lexi Deet

wendell henry, working with Jef janis

SATYA Lane, working with Lexi Deet

gabby murray, working with Lexi Deet

Zaviana Lane, working with Kaliban zehe

Avalon mclaughlin, working with Kaliban zehe

mykola ellis, working with bridget caswell

Buddy Akita: The pandemic has been a strange and stressful time for everyone, myself included. In my musical context, this is the longest I have ever gone without playing music in front of a crowd. My last show was with my band This Moment in Black History in January of 2020. Before that I had played live at least once a month since the age of 17 (I am currently 43). Hopefully with the advent of vaccines and ever-advancing medical science this pandemic will become more controlled and I can get back to doing what I love- playing live music.

Chris Kulcsar: Music has always been about time for me. If I want to go backwards and locate myself on a personal timeline, I think of what was playing on the nearest radio. Similarly, playing music (in bands or as a DJ) has always been an escape valve from the monotony of day-to-day existence. To mentally remove myself from the myriad of menial tasks that are required of us I will often float ahead to whatever gig, tour, or recording project lay in the immediate future. Covid has robbed me of these coping mechanisms, I feel unmoored, unstuck in time. The van is moving at a snail’s pace but is also horribly out of control. Whatever existential crisis that the pandemic has personally brought on it still feels completely insignificant given the hundreds of thousands that have lost their lives and the utter global chaos that has been wrought. This is not the future we hoped for, but this is the future we have.

Christina Akita: Playing music sadly took the backseat for myself as Buddy and I started a family. Kids, work blah blah blah, it’s been really hard to find the time. Honestly, I’ve never been much of a fan of crowds or playing out live, so we joked that we were preparing our whole lives for 2020. What was cool during the initial shutdown was waking up and just turning our nervous energy towards playing music. Everything is set up in the basement ready to go. That was super fun! Having no schedule, nothing really to do. I’m sure this would have happened pandemic or not but our kids have REALLY taken to playing music. Both of them have a natural ear and can figure out most things quickly. I’ve absolutely loved every moment of that. I miss going to shows and feeling that energy. I feel really bad for musicians. Buddy is coping as best as he can but it’s definitely not his normal. I’d really like to start playing again regularly. I’m looking forward to that. Cheers to 2022?

James Long: "Celestial Dynamism, the quality of being"

"Celestial" meaning divine or heavenly and "Dynamism" meaning the quality of being characterized by vigorous activity and progress. This external and divinely created irresistible force (the pandemic) that initiated this period of vigorous personal focus and a determined drive to keep moving forward...to keep creating.

Lamont Thomas: Honestly, I've had a little writer's block. I've lost track of certain people I normally work with. Not nearly as inspired as before. I'm slowly getting back into music with a new studio situation in the second bedroom of my apartment and a repaired van if I decide to tour. I suppose I needed a break having released more than two dozen records in ten years. Unfortunately, the break is not over. The world's moving again. But I'm not quite ready yet. This is one of those times where music isn't as important as survival. Some claim that music is the source of their survival. Let's hope...

LaToya K. KENT: “Art is my life. Everything I do orbits in its realm.

Not being able to perform, deliver babies, teach and record literally sucked a part of my soul from me.

I remembered to dream and visualize the time when everything would shift into action again.

Never the same but evolved.”

Maura Rodgers: It was clear from the beginning of the pandemic that the music industry, with its driving focus on bringing people together in close proximity, would be hit hard and hit hard for a long time. The pandemic delivered a devastating blow to my work as a performing musician-going from 30+ gigs a year to 5 has no doubt hurt my pocket and my spirit. As a transplant recipient on immunosuppression medications, the pandemic continues to feel like a ticking time bomb. It has destroyed any sense of security in doing what I love most as a musician: deeply connecting to a room full of people. In this regard, it’s been a very lonely 22 months.

As a songwriter, I’ve written a lot of new material during the pandemic. My personal life has been redefined as a new mother of twins, and the love and emotion that has emerged within this role has no doubt shaped a new soundscape and direction for me creatively. So much is spinning in my mind, on the piano, in notebooks, and on my guitar. I am eager to bring it all to life with my band and look forward to the day when I can safely share it with an audience around me.

Moises Borges: When any crises hit an area the entertainment industry is the first one to get fired. All the stages in the city got shot down and all of us became unemployed at once. There was stress and uncertainty, bills piling up, pressure from everywhere. At the same time with all the musicians available to play and we had no work or gigs to play I came up with the idea that all the front lawns in the city became an stage. Immediately I started to set up outdoors concerts with the band in front of the houses with social distancing, and that with the tips it helped me and the musicians to make money.

By the end of 2020's summer we did about 80 concerts and saved some money for the winter.

The pandemics distressed me as a musician and pushed me to adapt and innovate to find a solution to a new common community problem. It helped me to see that we are able to overcome challenges by using creativity from outside of the box, doing something not done yet, help others and still share good music to the community and make some good money.

RA Washington: I think going into the pandemic knowing that it meant there would be no performance income was the hardest thing to wrap my head around. My thoughts and those of my collaborators went from how many shows are we losing to what can we do with the time and how can we shift/innovate our presentation to still promote a new record while not being able to perform it. On a personal level, it gave me the space to consider my long-term commitment to art and how it was serving me. Did I feel fulfilled by the business aspects? Were there skills I could acquire to make me a better artist? Where would my income come from? So for me, the pandemic gave me the break every creative needs to recharge and consider my approach to being in mid-career, and it also gave me the perspective of gratitude and the acceptance of where I was.

Rich Ellis: The isolation of quarantine made me miss my band mates. Camaraderie is a big part of band life for me. I did find myself streaming a lot of live performances, and buying more records (not vinyls), and other merchandise. Most of the bands I like are not platinum selling artists, and I tried to do my part to make sure they would continue to exist on the other side of the pandemic.

Shelby Sangdahl: The pandemic has changed everyone's perspectives and priorities on so many things. I now appreciate every opportunity to play for people and with people. I cherish every occasion to inspire each other. The pandemic gave me time to release the debut album for my band Reginleif. It was recorded in a cave and it comes in a CD, a DVD, a book of short stories, and artwork. It was a lot to get together and if I wasn't forced to stay at home and get it done, it would probably still be a dream. Although playing music with and for people is such a blessing, live shows are far from what they used to be. Numbers are super low and just the fact of playing a gig can start a political rift. The drummer of Reginleif, Jeff, is a hustler but all of his freelance work and multiple teaching jobs came to a halt. The guitar player, James, explains it well, "If the music scene was a bike covid was a stick in the spokes." Many bands have broken up and some people haven't played music since the pandemic. Live music is a collective experience and I think that sense of togetherness is what will save it. People from all beliefs, races, and backgrounds come together because of their love of music. Hopefully that love can heal our music community and we can continue working and loving what we do.

Theresa May: As a musician I am both an educator and performer; the pandemic has affected both facets. My students and I had a huge learning curve once everything shifted from in-person to virtual. While I am now used to teaching private lessons online, I am still not a huge fan of lecturing via Zoom.

One thing I did not anticipate as a performer was the number of amazing opportunities, I received to collaborate with musicians from all across the globe, which has been a definite highlight during these times.

Vigatron: As an extreme introvert and antisocial black belt, I would have never imagined the loss that I felt, not being able to satisfy my exhibitionist tendencies while on stage. No amount of home or studio recording can make up for the energy that is received and transferred while performing my latest creations. Once the pandemic hit and lock downs began, I embraced the idea of working from home, completely neglecting the thought of no audiences either, except virtually. This is not the same. This is where the levels of depression set in. After more than a year of not gracing a stage, I was relieved to finally get some opportunities to knock the dust off. Most of us don't make music to keep it to ourselves. That being said...PEOPLE MATTER. I actually miss the people...and the money, but mostly the energy and smiling faces of those that chose to watch me work.

maya peroune, working with tia janis

tevyah hanley, working with aja grant

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS

EXCELLENT WORK, MENTORS + FELLOWS!

summer FELLOWSHIP Exhibition 2021

In the Cleveland Print Room’s Factory Fellowship, young artists develop individual creative voice while making new photography.

Mentors offer one-on-one support while going on photo shoots, discussing the process and sharing inspiration.

This community of young artists and mentors meets in person at the Print Room, via Zoom, and through an online photo-sharing platform.

Young artists receive a $100 stipend for their dedication during the 8-week Factory Fellowship, which is offered spring, summer and fall.

Thank you to the Cleveland Foundation for their support of our Arts Mastery Teen Institute.

And thank you to our Artist Mentors:

Aja Grant

Bridget Caswell

Julia Van Wagenen

Lexi Deet

Melinda Placko

Theodore Wilkins-Lang

FACTORY FELLOWSHIP ARTISTS

Avalon Bayley

Deirdre Robertson

DELANA RAY

FICK BIMENYIMANA

Iyan Jennings

LAI LAI BONNER

LEILA METRES

MARGAUX BUTZBACK

NATHAN DEWEY

Olive Rodemann

Tevyah Hanley

WENDELL HENRY

Mastery Fellowship Exhibition

August 3 - August 15, 2021

MASTERY FELLOWSHIP EXHIBITION

An exhibition of work created by four emerging artists from

CPR's Photo Mastery Program

2021 Artists

Destanee Cruz

Félix Látimer

Gabrielle Murray

Maya Peroune

These artists developed their skills as photographers by participating in Print Room classes and experiences over the past 4-5 years

spring fellowship exhibition 2021

This online exhibition features artwork created by young artists during the Spring Factory Fellowship.

In this fellowship, young artists develop their individual creative voices by making photo-based artwork. Artist Mentors work one-on-one with these young artists to encourage creativity: going on photo shoots, discussing the process and sharing inspiration. This community of young artists meets in person at the Print Room, via Zoom, and through an online photo-sharing platform. Young artists receive a stipend for their dedication during the 8-week Factory Fellowship, which is offered spring, summer and fall.

Thank you to the Cleveland Foundation for their support of our Arts Mastery Teen Institute. And thank you to our Artist Mentors: Orlando Caraballo, Aja Grant, Da’Shaunae Jackson, Melinda Placko, Helen Severovich, and Julia Van Wangenen.

Fick Bimenyimana

Nathan Dewey

Satya Lane

Zaviana Lane

In this photo project the theme is OUR STORY NOW. I tried to capture and portray the emptiness, loneliness and distance we have been feeling throughout covid through my photographs. So when you look at them you can understand or relate in a way to how covid made so many feel. Bringing awareness to the mental health side of what this pandemic brought.

Avalon McLaughlin

Kylah Newell

Maya Peroune

Halle Preneta

Loss of An Old Friend (Dedicated to Cameron Toth).JPG

Nina Serna

Van Weinmann

A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS:

Fall 2020 Factory Fellowship Student Showcase

This past Fall, 30 Factory Fellowship students were prompted to document themselves, their treasures, and their loved ones- The Suitcase Project. These students were actively engaged in our remote-learning programs that provided them with Fellowship Kits which included disposable cameras, sketchbooks, art supplies and handouts featuring shooting ideas and ways to promote self-care, along with snacks. The students had access to one-on-one mentorship during this 8 week fellowship and received a stipend. This online exhibition features photos they have created during their Fellowship following their interpretation of the The Suitcase Project.

Thank you to the Cleveland Foundation for their support of our Arts Mastery Teen Institute. Photos will also be featured in public art through a special grant that promotes community collections generously funded by the Fay Slover Fund at the Boston Foundation.

Thank you to our Mentors: John W. Carlson, Aja Grant, Da’Shaunae Jackson, Melinda Placko, Helen Severovich, and Julia Van Wangenen.

Rebecca Abramovich

My family is from Russia and they are immigrants. My brother and I are first-generation born in America. So I have heard lots of stories of how they lived back there and their experience with coming to America. I know two different sides of the spectrum, My Mothers side was very poor and had to leave because they were being mistreated for being Jewish. My dad’s side was a lot more wealthy, my grandma’s father owned a candy factory. Both sides of my family left to come to America because it’s the land of opportunity.

Avalon Bayley

Enahjae Beasley

Fick Bimenyimana

Alaishyia Bonner

Calleigh Busch

Margaux Butzback

So I started thinking about my project, about what people would pack if they only have one suitcase, their most prized possessions. It led me to think about two people very close to my heart. They are in their 80s and have lived in their house since the 1970s and not a lot has changed since they moved in. I spent a lot of time there growing up and their house provides me comfort. Their health is failing them now, and they have all of these trinkets that once seemed so necessary and now are simply clutter, sitting in every corner of their house. How would they even pick their prized possessions in all of the stuff? It made more and more sense, the fact that there is absolutely no way that they could choose just one suitcase. I first set out to take pictures of their stuff and what is meaningful for them, but what I ended up with were the memories that I would take with me if I only had one suitcase. I know that I will always have this piece of them not only in my photos, but in my heart.

Alexis Cuevas

Nathan Dewey

Ximena Gomez

Coniah Hanley

I was asked, if I had to pack a suitcase and leave everything I have ever known today, what would I pack? I was then asked to document what I would bring with me. I looked around my home and my possessions. Besides the obvious food and clothing, my mind was drawing a blank… except for one thing, my Bible, or more accurately my faith. Of course, I could not physically leave my faith behind, but I have known some people who have had hard times and lost the one most important thing.

I knew that I could photograph my Bible, but what would that show? I wanted to make art that displayed the Bible’s effects on me, not the object itself. It is my Bible’s influence that shows me I do not need material possessions. Because of my Bible and upbringing, I would be taking a whole lot more with me than I could fit into a million suitcases. I would bring experience, life lessons, and most importantly faith. I began documenting the areas of my life that the Bible has affected, and I added Scriptures which helped me through life. My art displays why I do not fear losing everything I have ever owned. I know who provides for me, who guides me, and who protects me. And I know that no matter what happens I have nothing to fear, and I have nothing to lose.

Tevyah Hanley

Check out Tevyah’s documentary “WON’T BE SILENCED!” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ufQnmhzvYQ&feature=youtu.be

Satya Lane

Zaviana Lane

Thaddeus Martin

Kylah Newell

Noel Pacheco

Maya Peroune

Nina Serna

Hailey Shimrock

Nathan Wilkins

2020 Factory Fellowship

Student Exhibition

This summer, 30 students were selected to participate in this year's Factory Fellowship. Throughout the summer, they were actively engaged in our remote-learning programs that provided them with Fellowship Kits which included disposable cameras, sketchbooks, art supplies and handouts featuring shooting ideas and ways to promote self-care, along with snacks. The students had access to one-on-one mentorship during this 8 week fellowship and received a stipend. This online exhibition features photos they have created during their Fellowship. Thank you to the Cleveland Foundation for their support of our Arts Mastery Teen Institute. Photos will also be featured in public art through a special grant that promotes community collections generously funded by the Fay Slover Fund at the Boston Foundation.

Thank you to our Mentors: John Carlson, Aja Grant, Da’Shaunae Jackson, Melinda Placko, Helen Severovich, and Julia Van Wangenen.

Rebecca Abramovich

Anabel Bach

Mecca Bahabib

Alaishyia Bonner

Margaux Butzback

Changes

Empty office buildings
On the side of the road,
All the busy workers,
Now working from home.

Flatten the curve,
Do what they say,
So that this virus,
Will go away.

Social distance,
Keep your space,
If you cannot then cover your face.

Staying connected,
Though not face to face,
No matter the time,
No matter the case.

Keep your head above water,
Take the bridge over fear
And don’t be afraid,
The cure could be near.

We’re in this together,
We’ll work as a team,
Together forever,
Soon living the dream.

Emmett Hallsman

Coniah Hanley

Tevyah Hanley

View Tevyah’s Documentary Trailer here.

View Tevyah’s Full-Length Documentary here.

Rameerah Holmes

Nolan Hortan

Satya Lane

The thing that inspires me in photography is The Sun. I started off just taking photos of the sun by itself. I then decided to start making my photos more interesting by putting a glass vase in a windowsill and the sun reflected off the glass and it looked like two Suns. My mentor inspired
me to try putting some differently shaped glasses in the window or outside and look at the shapes they made. I loved what happened to the light through the glass. It created reflections of dots, plants, and in some the light just bent in fascinating ways because of the way the glass
was cut. What I love about the sun is that it livens up the world and without it the world would be dark and cold.

Zavianna Lane

Ancient cultures lived with the earth and respected it. When an animal was killed, whether purposely or accidentally, the whole animal would be utilized, from the bones to the fur. Our society has now attempted to take over the earth and instead of being kind to it, has taken it for
granted and disrespected it.

When you don't respect something, or nurture it to allow it to grow, it begins to slowly die. That is what we have done to this earth. We have taken it for granted and slowly, very slowly, have killed it. We have been destroying the earth for so long that it is to the point where we need to
do something about it, before what we have done is irreversible.

Our lives are busy. We are doing so many things and we don’t always stop and notice what is around us. We don’t see the details. By capturing a moment in time with photographs of the pollution, of the waste or destruction of our world, I hope to make people notice what we have
done to our planet earth.

My work captures the major human impact of pollution. The images reflect what we are doing to the world. Right now especially, I feel it is important to take a look at what we have done to this planet, and perhaps in looking we may start to change our destructive ways and ultimately save the environment and planet.

Gabrielle Murray

In this “new normal” I’ve chosen to focus on every day scenes that look nothing as they should. I collaged newspaper clippings onto images of these places and all the newsprint relates back to the changes faced in each one. Closures, restrictions, mandates. Adding another layer, I used transparent images of normal times at these locations. These images were cut in the shape of COVID-19 to show what the virus has taken away from us.

Jacob Nathan

Kylah Newell

Maya Peroune

Zachary Richard

Owen Rodemann

Nina Serna

Hailey Shimrock

Van Weinmann

I set out on this project trying to find abandoned buildings that I could give life to with my images. I took pictures of abandoned gas stations, neglected funeral homes, and desolate parking lots. I travelled around Cleveland and found graffiti, broken down buildings, and other signs of desertion. One site I visited was an old observatory that has not been in use for years. The building is covered in greenery and graffiti lines nearly every wall. I took a number of pictures inside and out, but one caught my eye while I was editing. The picture I took featured a spray-painted tag on one wall reading “I’ve been dead inside.” I realized that this was meant as a human emotion, but could apply to both people and the places I was photographing. Just as the various sites throughout my city, people can feel ‘dead inside’ when neglected. This was an interesting connection and I decided to name my project ‘Dead Inside,” based on that one eye-catching image.