Artsbridge

The students have arrived, and are in the midst of orientation, so I thought I would briefly mention my wonderful introduction to Middle Eastern culture and youth this summer. I was lucky enough to be a part of a non-profit organization called Artsbridge that conducts a summer camp utilizing art to reach teenagers caught in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. I worked as the photography instructor at Artsbridge, teaching about the collaborative possibilities the medium offers. We worked on portraiture, still life arrangements and interesting compositions. Artsbridge was a truly amazing experience- I found my work with the kids and the progress they made in my seminar to be incredibly rewarding. The camp provided a safe environment for youth affected by the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to come together and discuss and reflect on their thoughts and experiences. I was also able to help with the film class where I watched proudly as the students pulled together to create an impressive collection of short films. The whole program culminated in a grand exhibition of all of the students’ work and final projects. I think the smiles, positive energy and vibrancy of that evening was a testament to all that was achieved through both the art classes and the dialogue sessions. Being in Jordan, so close to the Israeli/Palestinian territories, I am so fortunate to have the ability to visit the kids I worked with!

for more info about this program visit: http://www.artsbridgecamp.org