Washington, DC Galleries

Tree of Life : Students at the Tree of Life Public Charter School spent 4 weeks learning about documentary photography and how to tell stories through images. They focused on the Anacostia River Watershed project as their subject. The students documented their weekly trips to the Anacostia River, where they participated in river cleanup and learned about the issues and problems that plague the river. Most importantly, the students learned how to protect the environment around them. Their photographs show both the negative aspects of the river – the abundance of trash in the river and in the surrounding park – and the animals and flowers that live and grow in the area despite the current state of pollution. The juxtaposition of the positive and negative images shows the present state of the area and the possibility of future improvements to the environment.

Tree of Life

Students at the Tree of Life Public Charter School spent 4 weeks learn ...

Updated: Oct 23, 2009 6:53am PST

Higher Achievement Program Summer 2009 : During the Summer of 2009, Critical Exposure taught a photography elective for 5th-8th grade participants at the Higher Achievement Program. The students learned the basics of photography, documented their neighborhoods and communities with digital point and shoot cameras, learned how to make pinhole cameras, and learned how to use digital SLRs.

Higher Achievement Program Summer 2009

During the Summer of 2009, Critical Exposure taught a photography elec ...

Updated: Sep 14, 2009 12:09pm PST

Kid Power (2007-2008) : Kid Power-DC and LINK middle school students chose to focus their photography project and advocacy efforts on school nutrition. Their interest in the issue stemmed in part from their participation in CookieTime, a new non-profit baking business operated by the students with the assistance of CakeLove. With the support of their high school student mentors at Georgetown Day School, Kid Power students took photographs of school lunches and researched facts about nutrition, building on the knowledge they’d already developed through CookieTime. The students are currently in the process of sharing their concerns and potential solutions with the Executive Director of Food and Nutrition Services for D.C. Public Schools.

Kid Power (2007-2008)

Kid Power-DC and LINK middle school students chose to focus their phot ...

Updated: Aug 06, 2009 7:41am PST

"Through the Lens of D.C. Youth" Spring 2009 Exhibit : Nearly 50% of D.C. students do not graduate from high school. Only 9% get a college degree. The “Through the Lens of D.C. Youth” exhibit seeks to provide the D.C. community with a unique youth perspective on the causes and consequences of the city’s graduation crisis. The exhibit is part of the S.T.E.P. Up DC Campaign, which was created by Critical Exposure and our partner, the DC Alliance of Youth Advocates. S.T.E.P. Up DC is a network of youth and youth programs committed to improving graduation rates in the District of Columbia.

"Through the Lens of D.C. Youth" Spring 2009 Exhibit

Nearly 50% of D.C. students do not graduate from high school. Only 9% ...

Updated: May 29, 2009 1:36pm PST

Anacostia Exhibit (April 2009) :

Anacostia Exhibit (April 2009)

Updated: Apr 22, 2009 9:34am PST

Higher Achievement Program Student Photos (Summer 2008) :

Higher Achievement Program Student Photos (Summer 2008)

Updated: Apr 15, 2009 10:56am PST

Kid Power Fall 2008 :

Kid Power Fall 2008

Updated: Apr 13, 2009 7:23am PST

Truesdell Elementary :

Truesdell Elementary

Updated: Apr 13, 2009 7:21am PST

Spingarn STAY class : Critical Exposure worked with a group of students from Spingarn STAY in 2008-09. Spingarn STAY is a school that provides alternative academic programs for students who have left school and have decided to return to complete their high school degree. During the class, the students documented various aspects of the dropout crisis in D.C.

Spingarn STAY class

Critical Exposure worked with a group of students from Spingarn STAY i ...

Updated: Apr 13, 2009 7:18am PST

Washington DC :

Washington DC

Updated: Apr 02, 2009 2:40pm PST

Sasha Bruce (Spring 2008) : YOUTH HOMELESSNESS Formerly homeless youth participating in Sasha Bruce’s Independent Living Program took photographs to illustrate aspects of living on the streets. Working with the DC Alliance of Youth Advocates, students then developed testimony about their experiences and the need for more funding to support programs addressing youth homelessness. The students presented their testimony during a hearing before the Department of Human Services and the Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. Thanks to the students’ testimony and advocacy, Councilmember Marion Barry publicly committed to set aside up to $4 million for youth services and supports. DCAYA members and staff convened a meeting with staff from the offices of Councilmember Tommy Wells and Mayor Adrian Fenty to discuss long-term planning to end youth homelessness in the District. DCAYA staff also met with Dept. of Human Services Director Clarence Carter to discuss including youth as a key constituency in the strategic plan to end homelessness. Carter said youth had not previously been part of the conversation.

Sasha Bruce (Spring 2008)

YOUTH HOMELESSNESS Formerly homeless youth participating in Sasha ...

Updated: Apr 02, 2009 2:36pm PST

Perry School (Spring 2008) : HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS Middle and high school students at the Perry School Community Services Center selected housing and homelessness as the issues they wanted to document. Most of the students come from the neighborhoods surrounding the center in the North Capitol St. area of D.C., an area currently in the midst of a major, long-term redevelopment project. Residents are struggling with the impact of displacement, gentrification, and access to housing, themes which are reflected in the students’ images and writing.

Perry School (Spring 2008)

HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS Middle and high school students at the Perr ...

Updated: Aug 07, 2008 8:55am PST

Higher Achievement Program (Summer 2007) : FOURTH OF JULY During the summer of 2007, Critical Exposure provided an arts elective for middle school students attending the Higher Achievement Program’s center in Ward 4. Participating students documented different aspects of their lives. The photographs displayed here represent the way students and their families celebrated the Fourth of July.

Higher Achievement Program (Summer 2007)

FOURTH OF JULY During the summer of 2007, Critical Exposure provid ...

Updated: Aug 07, 2008 8:44am PST