Utilizing digital technologies such as sound, image and video editing media, the works featured here include dreamlike cityscapes, transborder satires, observations of urban renewal, and sound memorials that commemorate historical social movements while exploring youth's relationship with their urban environment from both personal and historical perspectives. From music videos to hidden camera footage and film noir, and from comedic stories to historical narratives, the youth have scripted and captured various moments of their everyday. The exhibition also includes meticulous frame by frame animations, vinyl graphics, text projects, unpredictable public performances in the San Francisco Mission District, as well as sound-based projects that mix historical voices with field recordings, youth-conducted interviews, and their own creative writing. The resulting stories establish links to the youth’s own experiences and realities.
The exhibition will be showcased in the Spiral Walkway gallery at Zeum: San Francisco’s Children’s Museum.
About Galeria de la Raza's Youth Media Project
The Youth Media Project (YMP) is an experiential youth arts education and mentorship program that provides training to Latino youth in video filming and editing, sound recording and editing, and computer graphics. The program also guides youth in the exploration of the direct linkage between creative activity and community building, the potential "uses" of artwork in a social context, and the role of the artist as a public citizen. The program offers one-on-one support to students in order to help them to effectively bridge the persistent "digital divide" and equip them with skills they can later develop professionally as well as with tools with which they can sharpen their analytical skills, critical thinking and literacy.
Mission Echoes: Social Change Through Poetic Soundscapes (1968-2008)
Conducted by visual artist Julio Morales, youth investigated historical narratives related to social movements in the Mission District, and links to their own histories, perspectives and experiences as Mission District youth. Youth develop their creative voice and experience how public art launches community dialogue and debate, promotes community empowerment and eventually contributes to social change. Youth develop skills in Final Cut Pro, computer graphics, and drawing.
About Zeum: San Francisco’s Children’s Museum
Zeum is San Francisco’s hands-on multimedia arts and technology museum for kids. Zeum – located in the Yerba Buena Gardens – is a community-based, non-profit organization that nurtures the 3Cs of 21st-century literacy – Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication – among youth and families. By combining clay animation, music video production, live performance and digital art with imagination, Zeum’s visitors become creators, animators, directors, performers, and designers. For more information, visit www.zeum.org.
Zeum opened its doors in October 1998 on the rooftop of Yerba Buena Gardens as part of a major 87-acre urban renewal project by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency in the South of Market area. Zeum’s unique 34,000 square-foot facility includes premier technology studios, interactive activity stations, exhibit galleries, community exhibit space, a 200-seat theater and the Zeum Carousel. | |