Photograph by: Ben DeSoto courtesy of the Houston Chronicle
 


Figure 1: Trails of Trash: Wassim Elmetni, age 11, photocollage

Through an innovative environmental awareness photo-art project, artist/activist, Rhonda Adams captures the journey of 10 Fifth Ward children as they learn about the hazards of the Many Diversified Interest (MDI) toxic waste site, located at 3617 Baer, in heart of their own community.   Adams, co-founder of the Museum of Cultural Arts-Houston (MOCAH) and a volunteer for the Sierra Club, gives them lessons, cameras and art supplies, fueling the creative genius that dwells in these children who live in one of the poorest and most disenfranchised neighborhoods in Houston.  Funded in part by a grant from the Community Toolbox for Children’s Environmental Health the activities in this project will serve as a model for others seeking innovative methods to address environmental issues in their own community.


Figure 2: Pollution is not the Solution: Trachelle Gulley, age 11, showing off
her photocollage about air pollution

The children’s artwork will exhibit along with over 30 photographs from around the world which depict mankind’s degradation of the environment during Fotofest Festival, March 16-April 22, 2006.  The exhibition, Artists Responding to Violence Against the Earth, will open March 16, 2006 from 6pm-9pm at the new gallery space of the Museum of Cultural Arts-Houston, located at 908 Wood St.   Suite 120, Houston Texas 77002.


This project is a community outreach partnership between the Sierra Club, the Community Toolbox for Children’s Environmental Health, the Museum of Cultural Arts-Houston, City of Houston Parks and Recreation Department, and the City of Houston Health and Human Services Childhood Lead Poison Prevention Program.  For more information contact Rhonda Adams at 713.224.2787 or email rhonda@mocah.org

Click on thumbnails to view larger images.

Workshop Day 1: What is Photography?

Students were introduced to the concept of photography and how cameras work. They discussed the different reasons for photography such as commercial; fine arts and environmental photography and photo-journalism, as they made reference to famous photographers within these fields. Each student received a camera and a list of photo assignments to complete by the end of each week.

Workshop Day 2: What is Pollution?

The students started a group discussion about pollution and were asked to identify the different types of pollution. Noise; air; visual; water; land and soil pollution were discussed as they also referred to examples, cause and effects of this within their own community. A community clean up and litter bug scavenger hunt activity allowed them to walk thru the neighborhood and park to identify and collect at least 10 small examples of 'innocent litter'.

Workshop Day 3: Litter Bug Collages

Using the littered items collected, the students created collages of their own versions of a 'Litter Bug'. Putting a name and a face to their own renditions of "Litter Bugs", young community participants were able to identify for themselves the need to help prevent pollution within their own neighborhood.

Workshop Day 4-7: Photo-Collage Stories

Next, the participants were issued individual cameras and assigned tasks to photo document examples of pollution within their neighborhood. Students were also asked to identify examples of the postiive aspects of their environment. Hence, their favorite people, places and things within their lives. Once the images were printed and returned to the students, they used a collage technque to create visual stories to express their own messages of environmental awareness. They were also asked to title and to write about their photo-collages.
 

Christie, age 10

Trachey Gulley , age 13

Briauna Willis, age 11

Monie Willis, age 7

Weaam Elmetni, age 8

Trachelle Gulley , age 11

Wassim Elmetni, age 11

Trascia Gulley, age 9

Workshop Day 8:Get the Lead Out!

Fifth Ward youth participate in City of Houston's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program CLPPP presentation at Swiney Park Community Center. Conducted by Jane Prestigomo, Nurse Case Manager, students learned about the cause and effects of lead poisoning as another example of ground pollution still present as a result of the MDI Superfund Site located only blocks away from their local elementary school. Children and parents were given information packets in an effort to encourage testing and prevention for families living within the Fifth Ward Community.

These images were created by youth from the Fifth Ward community that worked alongside artist/activist, Rhonda Adams.

Check out our media hits.

Grist magazine March 2006:http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2006/03/16/grow/index.html

Sierra Club monthly magazine July/August 2006: http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200607/bulletin.asp