Photo story for my community
PHOTO STORY FOR MY COMMUNITY.
Jūrmala Central Library, Strēlnieku prospekts 30, Jūrmala, LV-2015.
October 11, 2024 - March 31, 2025
On the magnetic boards one can see twenty-eight photo stories created by Jūrmala residents - the children of the Day Center and Day Care Center of the Social Services Center "Kauguri". Two educators happily participated. How were these pictures made and what do they tell?
We worked together for four weeks. We - the children of the Day Center and Day Care Center of Social Services Center "Kauguri", their teachers, as well as myself - Inga Šteimane, curator of the Art Station "Dubulti" and photographer Didzis Grodzs. The aim of the lessons was to create a photo story from four images.Photography, which is currently done by everyone with their smartphone, can be different and the aim of the classes was to show the possibility of seeing yourself in a social context and noticing the interesting in your community.
In four weeks, meeting in the beautiful hall of the Jūrmala Central Library - on August 6, 13, 20 and 29 -, we first looked at the photo stories of outstanding Latvian and foreign photographers. The children were looking for answers to questions: what unites these pictures, what is exciting about them? Children learned about different photo techniques. Then there was homework.
Every week, the children sent pictures and the curator created presentations of possible stories. During the lessons, the pictures were discussed and the children supplemented them with new ideas. The work was exciting. Children took pictures of friends, relatives, pets, events and favorite surroundings on their smart devices. They also discovered what they like, what they want to achieve, what they find beautiful and valuable. An ordinary yard, a view from the window, an excursion, a sunset, a rowan and road signs, trees and flowers, a dog Molly, a kitten Annika, cars and clouds turned out to be interesting. In bright colors, several photo stories show the life of the Roma community.
When the story was ready, each participant came up with a title and a short description for it. And here they are! Twenty-eight photo stories in a unique format - magnets on the board! "Photo story for my community" is created by:
Kristaps Gusejinovs with the photo story "Summer sunsets",
Marina Lapteva with photo stories "Heaven",
Bruno Francisks Plenne with the photo story "Sources of Life",
Angela Kozlovska with the photo story "My Flower Friends",
Janeks Kovaļevskis with the photo story "Friends and Nature",
Sofia Junevicha with photo stories "My theme is animals",
Olivia Bondarevska with the photo story "The life of a pet",
Viktorija Kurciņa with the photo story "Harmony",
Shatlana Kraukle with the photo story "Trees",
Miranda Maksimova with the photo story "My friends",
Shandars Krauklis with the photo story "My yard",
Kiirs Parfenenkovs with the photo story "Road Signs",
Rudolfs Parfenenkovs with the photo story "Rowan",
Atvars Maksimovs with the photo story "Nature",
Amirs Apinis with the photo story "I like photography",
Amanda Junevicha with the photo story "Molly",
Juliana Andrianova with photo stories "Center of the Day",
Viktorija Putrasevica with the photo story "Friendship",
Michele Igaune with the photo story "My photos",
Adrians Pampe with photo story "Car Parade",
Ignats Maksimovs with the photo story "My sister and her friends",
Janeks Kovalevskis and Romans Hauberts with a joint photo story “Sports",
Ivans Krauklis with the photo story "Gypsy life”.
"Photo story for my community" was created in cooperation with the Art Station "Dubulti", the Jūrmala Central Library, the Day Center of the Jūrmala Social Services Center "Kauguri" and the Day Care Center for children with functional disabilities. The project is supported by the British Council.
The project was created by Inga Šteimane, the directir of the Art Station "Dubulti", photographer Didzis Grodzs, Māra Jēkabsone, the directir of the Jūrmala Central Library and Baiba Zvaigzne, the library's project and public relations manager, Marina Lapteva, head of the the Day Center of the Jūrmala Social Services Center "Kauguri", and Juliana Andrianova, a teacher, as well as Aija Tuņa, head of the day care center for children with functional disabilities of the Jurmala Social Services Center “Kauguri".
Text by INGA ŠTEIMANE, curator.