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Friends, like Family to me (40" x 30", inkjet on archival paper, 2008) by Keneisha Lewis and Ross Todd Kerr. The appearance of a banner behind the best friends was accidental, or was it? In the Writers' Workshop, students learned to put words on the subliminal messages that surround us in every day life. |
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Loyal Family (72 x 42, inkjet on archival paper, 2008) by Terrill Card and Ross Todd Kerr. Within the safety of his grandfather's house, 18 year-old Terrill Card explores his connection to family, while checking out his new tattoos. "Family is hard, but they are all I got." |
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The Muslim in me (30" x 40", inkject on archival paper, 2008) by Alexandria Thomas. Students in the Writers' Workshop were coached to explore the theme of the show inside and out. In this self-portrait, Thomas reveals that she feels family most when connected to her spirituality. |
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I am sorry Mr. Kerr (30" x 20", c-chrome print on archival paper, 2008) by Apondo White and Ross Todd Kerr. White started the program shooting images with his own camera, but that stopped when his puppy pit bull made a chew toy out his camera. The text in this artwork is an actual quote by the artist when he reported on his progress at a Wednesday session of the Writers' Workshop. |
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More than a show of photographs, Emancipated Hearts is a celebration of family as experienced by the foster youth of the Oakland/East Bay Area. And though the artists within this show have not experienced a traditional family life — at least not yet, these teen-aged kids possess a power that most people lack: that is, an ability to create family among strangers —at least for a moment.
Leveraging this power, more than two-dozen foster kids and emancipated youths participating in the Alameda County Independent Living Skills Program (www.alamedacountyilsp.org) are now using donated, digital cameras and computers to tell their stories about family. To date, 39 digital cameras have been donated for this purpose.
Since March 2007, local photographer/writer Ross Todd Kerr has led a "Writers Workshop" for motivated students at the Alameda County ILSP, which is located on International Boulevard in Oakland. This show represents the best student artworks, the most compelling stories about family.
Emancipated Hearts will open to the public on Thursday, 24 April, 2008 and feature:
- more than two dozen photographs and photo-illustrations produced by foster youth, students at the Alameda County ILSP
- perspectives on family from a unique point of view
- a memory wall dedicated to the late Kennell Jackson, Professor of History at Stanford University and the inspiration for this show.
Emancipated Hearts: what is family to me? will open at the Esteban Sabar Gallery, which is located at 480 23rd Street in Oakland, near Telegraph Avenue.
Emancipated Hearts will open on the First Friday of May, that is 02 May 2008
- There will be an Artists Reception at the gallery on Friday, 25 April 2008. The purpose of this event is to introduce the student artists to patrons, to local celebrities, and to the press. Already, Comcast, the Oakland Tribune, the Piedmont Post and the Oakland Magazine are committed to cover the event.
- Throughout the month of April, the gallery will be open to tours by schools and be available for private events.
- The Alameda County Independent Living Skills Program is an award-winning mentoring program that supports foster-youth attending high schools throughout the East Bay region. Among other life skills addressed by this program, financial literacy is a critical one. (see: www.alamedacountyilsp.org)
Ross Todd Kerr is a single dad of two teen-aged kids and a life-long resident of the Oakland/East Bay Area. With degrees from both Stanford and U.C. Berkeley, Kerr is a photographer and cartoonist and now the Associate Editor of the Piedmont Post. (see www.sfish.net)
For more information related to Emancipated Hearts, please contact Ross Todd Kerr at 510 547 9800 (rtoddk@comcast.net).
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My love (28" x 21", inkjet on archival paper, 2008) by Mori Franklin and Ross Todd Kerr. In her portraits of her family, Franklin reveals herself as a quiet witness – often capturing tender moments and connectedness, a sentiment exaggerated by the echo of this image. |
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The night he told his story (30" x 40", inkjet on archival paper, 2008) by Ross Todd Kerr with Jeff Owens. Encinal high school senior Jeff Owens wanted to tell his story while playing football, so he made arrangements for the camera to capture his play in ìthe Island Bowl. Unfortunately, for his rivals' from Alameda high school, Owens reacted to the lens by rushing for 3 touchdowns and 197 yards before half-time. |
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