Eye on Third Ward, the annual exhibition of photographs by students from Jack Yates High School designed to express the distinctive identity of Houston's historic Third Ward, this year for the first time includes photographs from the teens' personal lives. The exhibition opens at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, on February 10, where it will be on view in the Audrey Jones Beck Building through May 26, 2008.
The MFAH's education department and the Magnet School of Communication at Jack Yates High School founded the Eye on Third Ward photography project in 1995 to encourage students to hone their technological skills and powers of observation by documenting the neighborhood and its residents. A historically black community, the Third Ward is home to many important political, cultural, and educational organizations as well as strong religious and community groups. The neighborhood is adjacent to two universities, the Medical Center, the Museum District, and Interstate 45.
Yates photography teacher Ray C. Carrington III challenges his classes each year to make photographs that capture the personality of the area and the people who live there. During class time, Carrington leads students on photo-taking walks through the neighborhood. For this year's exhibition, students were able to check out cameras on Friday afternoons so that they could take photographs of personal events over the weekends.
About 60 high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, ages 15 to 17, participate in the project each year. A select number of the works created during the year-long class are chosen for the exhibition. This year's exhibition presents 29 black-and-white photographs by 13 students: Andre Ford, Lauren Ford, De'Andria Franklin, Tabatha Gabriel, Desiree Hall, Morgan Harris, Senora Harris, Bianca Hayes, Ashley Jackson, Edgar Lira, Doria McDuell, Ciara Morgan, and Guadalupe Torres.
"After more than a decade, the Third Ward continues to yield surprising discoveries to each new class," said George Ramirez, MFAH manager of student programs, who organized the exhibition for the museum. "This year's group of young photographers captured everyday moments in the lives of residents that touched on issues ranging from pride to politics."
Among the photographs are a portrait of a girl behind the railings of staircase; a young girl at her birthday party; and two men sitting outside reading the newspaper. For the exhibition, the students wrote brief, descriptive paragraphs to accompany the photographs, explaining their inspiration, their thoughts about what their subjects might be thinking, or their observations about the process:
• "Many teenagers today walk around trying to be something they're not. Trying to be like someone else can really hurt you because it can lead to something that you're not comfortable with. This photo reminds me of that exact situation; the real person, sad and locked away in a cell. Take control and unlock that door to show people the real side of you. If anyone asks, just simply reply, 'This is the real me.' " — Desiree Hall, The Real Me.
• "This is a picture of my niece on her 8th birthday. This day will be a happy memory for her because she had so much fun. This picture is a memory as well; it will remind everyone of that joyous occasion. Memories can be both good and bad. They can brighten our day or darken it as well. When all tangible things from a happy occasion are gone, at least we have our memories to keep a smile on us." — Guadalupe Torres, Memories
• "Each morning they sit outside reading the newspaper and conversing about whatever is on their minds. They have been in this community for years and have seen this area change right from those same two seats. Whenever our class goes walking and we go down their street they greet us happily and continue on with their conversations as we pass. To me this picture shows the upside of Third Ward which is the people." — Ciara Morgan, The Upside -- www.mfah.org
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