Investigating Where We Live
Tour Washington, D.C. Through the Eyes of Local Youth
Over the course of 17 years, the Museum has empowered teens to become agents of change in their city through design, urban planning, and photography. Teens attending this summer’s Investigating Where We Live (IWWL) program experienced this opportunity through sharing their perspectives on Washington, D.C. using the lens of photography and exhibition design.
Open through January 19, 2011, the 2010 Investigating Where We Live exhibition presents fresh and honest insights into the neighborhoods of Petworth, Southwest waterfront, and Trinidad. The exhibition contains photographs, short stories, artwork, and interactive elements created by local teens, giving the visitor a greater understanding of life in these communities.
Every summer, teens from D.C., Maryland, and Virginia spend four weeks at the Museum learning the basics of digital photography and exhibition design. The teens work in three teams to explore three different D.C. neighborhoods. They gather information about the neighborhoods history and identity by documenting important landmarks, major thoroughfares, businesses, residential areas, parks, and people. This summer, for example, students observed that all three neighborhoods—Petworth, Southwest waterfront, and Trinidad—contained old and historic structures, or were undergoing changes through construction and renewal projects.
In order to better understand how to photograph and interpret the city’s urban landscape, the participants work alongside Museum staff and local photographers. Furthermore, the Museum’s partnership with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture provides the opportunity for the students to learn from professional curators and designers about exhibition planning and design.
The culmination of this experience is a professionally-mounted exhibition in a Museum gallery designed, planned, and hung by teens. The exhibition communicates the highs and lows of neighborhood life, the importance of community identity, and the value of collaboration.
Take this opportunity to catch up on the thoughts and photographs of IWWL participants by visiting the IWWL Blog. Feel free to comment on the photos, share a personal story, or write a response the students' work. You can also visit IWWL’s Flickr page to see more images from the students. Or become a fan of our Facebook page to learn more about all of the IWWL program activities.
