PS Architecture 2008 Exhibition
Story by Susan Sellers
Photos by NYC PS students
PS 8 Parent Jane Pook, a Special Projects Manager at the DOE, has curated and produced an exhibition of architectural photography on Public Schools in New York City. The exhibition opens on October 17 and runs through November 22 at the Center for Architecture. The photographs are of New York City public schools taken by New York City public school students.
Photo by Christina Wu, PS 112, Brooklyn
The 20 images on view are the winning photographs from the New York City Department of Education's first-ever citywide architectural photography competition that was open to New York City public school students from pre-K through twelfth grade.
Jane's inspiration stemmed from a casual conversation with a colleague at the School Construction Authority -- the organization charged with building and renovating NYC schools-- who was bemoaning a lack of interesting photos
of our schools. "We both thought it would be great to have kids take pictures of their own schools. In thinking further, I thought creating a contest for students would be a terrific way to get kids involved and get some excellent and non-traditional pictures, too."
Photo by Kenny Shi, PS 69, Vincent D. Grippo School, Brooklyn
A call went out to principals in a weekly newsletter and the information was posted on the DOE website. Almost 500 students submitted photographs of their schools and a jury of art and architecture professionals selected winners in three categories: elementary, middle, and high school. "It was a difficult process--there are so many talented students and many of the photographs were outstanding."
Photo by Raphaela Olive, PS 20, Clinton Hill School, Brooklyn
The Center for Architecture Foundation has expressed an interest in doing the project again next year, so stay tuned! In the meantime, visit the exhibition:
PS Architecture 2008
Center for Architecture
536 LaGuardia Place
New York, New York 100012
For more information, go to the Center for Architecture or the PS Architecture.
Posted on: October 25, 2008
