My Viewpoint Photography

The My Viewpoint Photography Program on the Cheyenne River Reservation, SD, teaches photography as a means of exploration, self-expression, and reflection. All formal and technical training are student driven and are taught through hands-on experiences. Using the concept of apprenticeship as a model, students and instructors photograph alongside one another. This practice enables everyone to be a student and a teacher. Since the program’s inception in 2005, students (aged 6-20) have employed both digital and analog techniques. Students print their images in an onsite darkroom, or edit their digital images in Adobe Photoshop and Image Blender.

In the next phase of this program, students and instructors will design of a group exhibition of their work. In order to equip the students with the necessary tools, My Viewpoint plans to bring six committed teenage photographers and two tribal elders to New York City. The purpose of this visit is to expose the youth and elders to ideas of representation: the artist’s intent, and the viewer’s perceptions. New York City, home of a cultural scene that has historically challenged deep-rooted stereotypes, is a logical location to observe people and explore art. The group will tour museums and galleries, and meet with artists and curators. This artistic exposure is designed to inspire the creation of a photographic instillation that will enable the viewer to interact with the images, form relationships with the photographic subjects, and feel the conflicting emotions that permeate life on the reservation. Together, students, teachers, and elders will determine the venue most appropriate for the instillation, and begin the curation process. Any donations, monetary, or in the form of air miles, are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible.