Creating Exposure’s photography tells story of community Teen visual artists host free photo shoot Feb. 29

Image by CEA Instructor Donald Sanchez
Published Friday, February 28, 2020 4:38 pm

by Ashley Mahoney | The Charlotte Post

Creating Exposure is bringing art to the community.

Participants in the free teen visual arts program will host a free photo shoot On Feb. 29 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Northlake Mall’s Live 360 Area.

“These students are now getting the opportunity to take their skills into other communities,” Creating Exposure Founder and Executive Director Mark Pendergrass said.

The Arts & Science Council Culture Blocks program takes place at locations like the Scaleybark location of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Arbor Glen Outreach Facility, as well as the Steele Creek Library. There, students hone photography, videography and journalism skills. The program tests their skills through covering local organizations, including The Charlotte Post Foundation’s Black Lives Matter Charlotte Initiative, Steve Smith Foundation and Profound Gentlemen. Their free workshops, like this weekend’s, foster community engagement. They held a Glamour Photo Session for seniors in January.

“Students are now getting an opportunity to take what they have learned into another community,” Pendergrass said. “We did a holiday photo shoot last Christmas. In January, we did older adults, which was to bring grandmothers and grandfathers out. This is the love theme.”

Creating Exposure is asking couples, families, and other loved ones to come out for the photo opportunity.

“All walks, races, cultures—it does not matter,” Pendergrass said. “Bring your family.”

Attendees will have the opportunity to see their photographs, which will then be emailed to them.

Pendergrass noted the nostalgic element of going with your family to a photo shoot. For many, it reminds them of going to a department store as a child to have their picture taken.

“A lot of people don’t do that anymore because people have cameras, and you don’t have people going to get professional pictures taken,” Pendergrass said. “We found that even in the last session we did in January, people had not had portraits taken in years. People don’t really go to studios anymore because people have cameras, but then they don’t get to see the quality. That’s the goal with this weekend: to show what we do and show the kids a life skill.”