Children's Lives Through Children's Eyes

For the past three months students from five Durham elementary and middle schools have been busy photographing, printing, and writing to complete work on a collaborative project between themselves, their teachers and Duke undergraduates. The Literacy Through Photography program at Duke's Center for Documentary Studies facilitates many such projects, with this particular effort resulting in an exhibition available for view by the general public. "Literacy Through Photography: Children's Lives Through Children's Eyes" serves as an excellent example of what this program, now in its ninth year, can achieve: an honest, first-hand look at how our elementary and middle school children interpret the world around them.

Students were instructed in basic camera operation before setting out to document their lives, and the lives of those around them. Next, they learned the rudiments of developing and printing photographs. The last task was a written exploration into the visual worlds they had captured on film. The photographs became catalysts for a deeper investigation of self, community, family, and dreams.

Participating schools include: Fayetteville Elementary, Githen Middle School, Shepard Middle School, Club Boulevard Elementary, and R.N. Harris Elementary. The students were advised in their efforts by their teachers as well as undergraduate interns from a class based at the Center for Documentary Studies.

"Literacy Through Photography: Children's Lives Through Children's Eyes" will open for public viewing in the Porch Gallery at the Center for Documentary Studies on December 7, 1998 and will be on display through February 5, 1999. The Center for Documentary Studies is located in the Lyndhurst House, 1317 West Pettigrew Street, off Swift Avenue between Duke's east and west campuses. Gallery hours are: Monday through Thursday: 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM; Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Saturday: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. For more information about Center events, call: (919) 660-3663.

Holiday Gallery Hours notice: Please note that the galleries at the Center for Documentary Studies will be closed for the following dates over the holiday season: December 19 - December 27; January 1 - January 3; in addition, there will be no evening gallery hours after 5:00 pm the week of December 28.