The Workshop Gallery || NYC
BY Judith Rae
Signature Stories
Tell the story of the mountains you've climbed. Your words could become part of
Photography has taken me around the world and back. To far off places on the map and in my heart. This is a collection, these students, this community has moved me heart and soul. My hope is that within these pages your heart is engaged too by the images and stories.
SOMEONE ELSE'S SURVIVAL GUIDE.
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- Morgan Harper Nichols
workshop series
behind the scenes photo of Judith Rae and Forsyth Students by Curtis Willocks
With the help of Paula Walters Parker, Artist and art teacher at Forsyth Satellite Academy, and professor Curtis Willocks from the Fashion Institute of Technology, we created an experiential learning environment whereby students learned some basics of photography while exploring personal narratives. Forsyth students were able to experience being in front of and behind the camera while learning a bit about the history and the mechanics of large-format photography and how to develop a personal narrative in an artist statement.
Together, we conducted a series of seven-day workshops at Forsyth Satellite Academy. Throughout the workshops, we created a structure where, as students waited to be photographed, they watched, assisted as others were being photographed, documented behind the scenes of the photoshoot, and took photos of their peers and teachers. Through this structure, students learned the intellectual properties of photography and the kinesthetic, hands-on, physical, and emotional aspects of working with clients and medium-format digital and large-format film cameras.
I also shared my journey in photography and my artist statement to help facilitate a group discussion with all the students about “where they’re currently at, best case scenario for what’s next, and causes they care about.” Students then combined their collective words and Fujifilm Instax images to share critical takeaways.
OUR JOURNEYS || OUR STORIES || Forsyth
Toward the end, I met individually with students to guide them in creating their artistic statements.
In some cases, I shared a heart meditation to help facilitate a safe space where they could feel comfortable sharing their personal stories about what they have learned, how the process of making art affects them, and why art brings them joy.
Judith has given students access to explore the wonderful art form of photography and the different classifications of photography tools. STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO SEE THEMSELVES AS GALLERY PIECES, BUILDING THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE AND REFLECTION SKILLS. JUDITH HAS BECOME SUCH A STAPLE WITHIN OUR SCHOOL COMMUNITY. JUDITH’S WORKSHOPS HELP SOLIDIFY THE ART CONSORTIUM MODEL AT OUR SCHOOL. WE ARE EXTREMELY LUCKY TO HAVE HER AS A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
Working with Judith has been such an amazing experience for not only the students at the school but also the staff.
- Tony Canton - CAMBA Community School Director
PHOTOS AND AUDIO OF STUDENTS' REFLECTIVE ARTIST STATEMENTS CAPTURED BY JUDITH RAE WITH ASSISTANCE FROM STUDENTS AT FORSYTH SATELLITE ACADEMY.
This project was made possible through a partnership with Judith Rae Photography || Artist and FSA art instructor Paula Walters Parker || Professor Curtis Willocks with his students from FIT and Parsons School of Design || LTI Lightside Photographic Services || Camba @ Forsyth Satellite Academy || Penumbra Foundation
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