Seeing NYC through a Youthful Lens
Vendor at the Union Square Farmers Market by Nermen Elkallini
CAW Youth Apprentice Commissioned to Provide Photos for Prestigious Active Design Guidelines
CAW Teaching Artist Larson Harley with Youth Apprentice Alex Frimpong
Creative Art Works has collaborated on many active design in schools programs with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) over the years. This fall, the DOHMH invited CAW to collaborate with the Center for Active Design (CfAD) to provide photographs for an updated edition of their award-winning Active Design Guidelines. This manual, which defines active design principles and offers concrete plans for implementing those principles, influences policy and capital decisions across all city agencies and many institutions outside NYC as well.
We assembled an all-star team of veterans from previous CAW programs. Justin Beltran, Nermen Elkallini, Alex Frimpong, Jr., Sophia Lee, and Orchid Sylvester were all summer 2021 Youth Apprentices. Mia Castro participated in the Character Design program with FunPlus last winter. Outfitted with professional cameras and lenses, our young photographers spread out across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens searching for images that epitomize the best practices of active design, including bike lanes, pedestrian only streets, public transportation, farmers markets, and public parks and recreation at locations including Essex Market, Union Square Market, Madison Square Park, and Brooklyn Bridge Park. Youth Apprentices worked under the guidance of CAW Teaching Artist Larson Harley, who taught them the ropes of successful journalistic photography through group assignments and professional critiques of their work. As far as paid photo assignments go, this was a great gig!
“This collaboration was a win-win for everybody. Our CAW Youth Apprentices benefited from real-world experience and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Center for Active Design will have a wealth of photos that reflect a youth perspective.”
On Assignment: CAW Youth Apprentices assemble at 599 Lexington before fanning out in search of great images.
Join us for a Celebration of our Youth Photographers!
Tuesday, December 21st, 4:00 PM
Join via Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87488771645?pwd=NHRUSTNiVkVRU2xHQ2laM0xXVWllQT09
Meeting ID: 874 8877 1645
Passcode: 451171
One tap mobile:
+19292056099,,87488771645#,,,,*451171# US (New York)
Selected Works by Our Youth Apprentices
Justin Beltran
Mia Castro
Nermen Elkallini
Read Nemen’s reflections on her photographs and the Active Design Photography program in our next blog, On Assignment with a Young Photographer.
Alex Frimpong, Jr.
Sophia Lee
Orchid Sylvester
ABOUT CAW’s PUBLIC ART YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMs
Public Art Youth Employment programs give teens and young adults full-time summer jobs and part-time jobs after school to create large-scale public art and multimedia projects. Youth Apprentices are guided by professional teaching artists from the initial concept development through client presentation, to the final edit and public unveiling or premiere. Along the way, they gain tangible employment and life skills such as leadership, teamwork, responsibility and the power of taking initiative. They are empowered by the enduring accomplishment in their work of art and its positive impact on the community.
This program was made possible, in part, by the Center for Active Design, the New York State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council, and by generous support of MKDA. Special thanks to Boston Properties for providing space for these programs.
