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Initiatives
What’s New?

Inspired by unprecedented demographic urban changes; an expansion in the immigrant and refugee communities; growth in high density urban living juxtaposed to the devastation of rising home foreclosures, in 2006 the OverExposure board moved to undertake “What’s New” a three year documentary photography project.

With an interest to record the changes and challenges each Twin Cities neighborhood currently face the first phase of the project 10.10.10. began in 2007 with 10 photographers selected to work with 10 community partners. The second phase of the project 32 x 4 began in June 2008 and 4 photographers received grants to partner with 8 organizations and document a total of 32 neighborhoods. 40 x 5, a collection of black and white and color photographs created by 5 photographers in 2009/2010 present 40 Twin Cities neighborhoods for the third and final installation of its “What’s New?”

What’s New uses photography to engage, educate, and broaden views of the changes and challenges of neighborhoods in the Twin Cities.

What’s New? Phase 1: 10.10.10

As the first phase of “What’s New” OverExposure provided ten grants to local photographers to work with ten neighborhood organizations during the summer of 2007.

Partnering organizations helped photographers identify neighborhood characteristics, places of interaction, and events and activities that signified changes created by growing diversity. Photographers spent the summer in the neighborhoods where they documented and artistically interpreted these changes.

The roster of participating photographers and neighborhood organizations include:
Michael Dvorak – Jordan Neighborhood, Jose Faine – Corcoran Neighborhood, Dusty Hoskovec – Holland Neighborhood, Chris Kelleher – Bottineau Neighborhood, Erica Meium – Longfellow, James O’Neal – Saint Anthony Park, Melissa Toft – Marcy Holmes, Jared Watsabaugh – Dayton’s Bluff, Angel Wickland – Ventura Village, and Richard Wong – Linden Hills

An exhibition of the work 10.10.10, was held at Augsburg College in Minneapolis from November 7, 2007 through December 2, 2007. In November 2007 using photographs from the show OverExposure and Augsburg College sponsored a public forum entitled: “How Arts Projects Build Community”. An expanded exhibition of 10.10.10. will be on display at the McKnight Foundation from July 16, 2008 – January 16, 2009.

What’s New? Phase 2: 32×4

32 x 4, phase two of “What’s New”, OverExposure’s neighborhood documentary project, began on 6/l/08. Selected from a pool of applicants, Michael Dvorak, Dusty Hoskovec, Sarah Stacke, and Xavier Tavera each received grants to participate on the project.

The 2008 community partners included: Bancroft Neighborhood Association, Harrison Neighborhood Association, Field Regina Northrop Neighborhood Group, and Victory Neighborhood Association in Minneapolis. St. Paul partners include: District 6 Planning Council, Riverview Economic Development Association (REDA), and Sparc.

Each photographer selected six neighborhoods to document and by the end of 2009, 42 neighborhoods had been recorded. A public exhibition of the completed work was presented in 2009 at the Central Library in Downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul Travelers.

In conjunction with the Central Library exhibition OverExposure sponsored a community “Using Photography to Engage Community” with Ann Markusen, Humphrey Institute, Elizabeth Glidden, Minneapolis City Councilmember, George Slade Photography Historian; and Xavier Tavera, OverExposure photographer.

What’s New? Phase 3: 40 X 5

40 x 5, a collection of black and white and color photographs present 40 Twin Cities neighborhoods for the third and final installation of its community-based photography project “What’s New?”

Commenced in 2007, “What’s New” uses documentary photography to explore the changing characteristics and demographics of Twin Cities neighborhoods. Commissioned in 2009, photographers Michael Dvorak, David Eberhardt, Dusty Hoskovec, Dick Ott, and Xavier Tavera documented and artistically interpreted the changing characteristics of the 40 Twin Cities neighborhoods. Using a variety of films, formats and shooting styles, 40 x 5 is a complex urban portrait that uses people, events, celebrations, architecture, parks, and industrial sites to define the demographics of Twin Cities neighborhoods. Collectively, the work in 40 x 5 reflects the undeniable impulse of social documentary work and presents a mesmerizing and contemporary view of 40 Twin Cities Metropolitan neighborhoods.

What’s New?: The Final Eight

The Final Eight is a series of photographs that culminates the last phase of “What’s New”, our three year project that presents the changes and challenges of each Metropolitan Twin Cities neighborhood. Showcasing the work of Michael Dvorak and Jared Watsabaugh, these images represent the final eight neighborhoods in our project. Created from July 2010 through June 2011, the work presents the Armatage, Beltrami, CARAG, Cedar-Isles-Dean, Ericcson, Hale/Page, Kenny, Lind-Bohanon, Lowry Hill, Shingle Creek and Wenonah neighborhoods.

Over Exposure Individual artist fellowship

OverExposure fellowships provide opportunities to photographers whose work examine critical statewide issues and are used to engage the community. OverExposure intends to increase the visibility of regional documentary photography with projects that respond to the unique needs and interests of the community they address, integrate creative approaches and thoughtful strategies for presenting the images to an audience and include related regional discussions, events, workshops, activities, or larger advocacy to the scope of the project.

Selected from a pool of applicants, Becky Olstad received $10,000 fellowship to continue a documentary project which follows the Circle of Discipline; a Minneapolis-based organization that provides at-risk youth with alternative programs to address their physical, emotional and mental needs, primarily through the sport of boxing. Olstad uses the grant to strengthen and enhance the project by creating and exhibiting new work that documents the athletes’ lives outside the ring. Her completed work was presented in August 2011 at Augsburg College.

Centro Youth Workshop

Six-week photography workshops created in partnership between Centro, a Minneapolis social service organization that serves the Metropolitan Latino and Chicano communities, OverExposure, and Augsburg College. Augsburg photography students served as OverExposure interns and assisted in teaching 35mm black and white film to 11 teens from Raices’/Roots, a youth development program for high-risk Latino youth. The workshop introduced students to the technical and artistic skills required to properly expose, develop, and print black and white film. Using identity and culture as its themes students produced an exhibition of photographs were presented during August at Centro.

This activity is made possible in part by Augsburg Student Government and the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council from an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature and the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Karen Teen Youth Workshop

Five-week photography workshop created for 14 Karen teens from Arlington High School in St. Paul and taught at Augsburg College.

Workshop partnered Karen teens with Augsburg students who provided class assistance to teach technical and artistic aspects of black and white film. Using identity and culture as themes students produced an exhibition of photographs that presented at  and included as part of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Forum at Augsburg College.

Funded through Augsburg Faculty Development program, OverExposure, and Augsburg Student Government.

Art of the Vote

“Art of the Vote” is a series of photographs which used civic engagement as its theme to record voter registration initiatives in the 2004 national election. Partnering with National Voice, a national voter registration initiative, over the summer, students created a series photographs which National Voice used as promotion on their website.

Exhibitions of the work were held at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and the Minnesota Center for Book Arts. With assistance from the Minnesota Business Partnership, lawn signs were created and installed in community centers and public sites throughout the Twin Cities the weekend before the election.

Partners:
Anoka County Fair, Freedom To Vote Festival, Got Voice? Got Power!, Juneteenth, Bob Kessler, LexingtonHamline Community Organization, Minneapolis Park Board, Minneapolis Farmer’s Market, Minnesota Council for Non-Profits, Minnesota Literacy Council, National Voice, Ramsey Action Program, Rondo Days Festival, St. Paul City Council, Stevens Square Community, Bob Tracy
University Neighborhood Network, West 7th Street Federation, Westside Citizens Organization and the Whittier Neighborhood.

Sponsorship for lawn sign provided by:
Peg Birk, Minnesota Business Partnership, and the Ramsey Action Program.

Behind Closed Doors

“Behind Closed Doors” examines the jobs, families, lives and dreams of the working poor in Minnesota. Students from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design partnered with the Urban Coalition to document the diverse people and places that are part of low-income communities in the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.

The work was exhibited at the Franklin Learning Center, Intermedia Arts, MCAD Gallery, and the Minneapolis Foundation in Minneapolis. The Franklin Library acquired photographs from Behind Closed Doors as part of their permanent collection. Photo District News, an online media resource, published an article in their educators’ site in December 03.

The work was also served as an illustration backdrop for a community forum on “Documentary Photography A Tool for Social Change” at MCAD in October 2003.

Community Partner
Urban Coalition and MCAD

Partners

Centro Campesino, Community Citizens’ Patrol, French Meadow Bakery and Café, Hotel Employees/Restaurant Employees Union, Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride, Independence Day Parade, La Clinica en Lake, Mickey’s Diner, Minneapolis Farmer’s Market Youth, Farm and Market Project, Parkside Bar, Powderhorn-Phillips Farmers’ Market, Raspberry Festival, Hopkins, MN, Salvation Army, Sergeant Strawberry, Small Farm St. Joseph, MN, Torchlight Parade, Vang Auto Sales

Support and sponsorship was provided by the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, University Neighborhood Network and Wells Fargo.

This exhibition was dedicated to Bill Kennedy, photographer, legal defense attorney, project assistant, MCAD teaching assistant, and advocate for poor people, who suddenly passed away during this project.

View the Behind Closed Doors photoset here.

Around the Corner

“Around the Corner” puts the contributions of immigrants and refugees on display for people to learn about new Americans. . In 2003 nine Metropolitan State University photography students partnered Urban Coalition 2003 to document the lives and contributions of immigrants and refugees in the Twin Cities.

Students worked with civic leaders and community-based businesses and organizations that represent the economic, cultural and civic changes that have been affected by immigrants and refugees. Work created in the project was exhibited at River Gallery and Metropolitan State University in St. Paul and was showcased as part of a forum at the Minneapolis Foundation. KFAI, a local radio station produced a feature on “Around the Corner” in July 2003.

Sponsors:
Center for Community-Based Learning at Metropolitan State University, IFP – Minnesota, JB Realty, McKnight Foundation, River Gallery, University Neighborhood Network, Urban Coalition, West Photo and Whole Foods.

Community Partners:
Central Avenue Mainstreet Project, Code Orange Meeting, Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, Council on Black Minnesotans, Crescent Moon Bakery, Danza Mexican Cuauhtenoc, Don Panchos Bakery, El Burrito Mercado, Gyoto Wheel of Dharma Monastery, Hindu Holi Celebration, Hmong Cultural Center, Holy Land Bakery And Grocery Deli, Hubb Learning Center, Intermaco Auto Service
Jasmine’s Café, Kramarczuk Sausage Company, La Clinica on Lake, La Raza Student Cultural Center (U/M), Lakewinds Natural Foods, Lexington-Hamline Community, Minneapolis Farmer’s Market, Patel Groceries and Video, Peace Africa, Resource Center of the Americas, River Bluff Car Wash, Seven Bridges World Market, Skyline Towers, The Tibet Store, Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota, and the Tibetan New Year’s Celebration.