Santa Monica Police Department Chief Timothy Jackman and Santa Monica Fire Department Chief Scott Ferguson discuss the youth’s photographs during Santa Monica Bay Human Relations Council's Third Annual Kids With Cameras Photo Exhibit & Conversation at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica satellite campus at John Adams Middle School on Saturday, October 15, 2011.
This year’s theme was Public Art as Community Wealth. The project involves participation in photojournalism workshops by local youth selected from the Police Activities League, Boys and Girls Club and Santa Monica Family YMCA. 'By showing them the community’s wealth expressed through public art, the children are exposed to a world many of them would not experience otherwise. This opportunity will enrich their lives in a way that will alter their futures for the better,' says Timothy J. Jackman, Chief of Police.
Fabian Lewkowicz, a professional photojournalist who has supervised and mentored the group in the past is joined by photographers Dr. Charles Haskell,Nick Steers and Bill Beebe and the City Public Art coordinator Malina Moore whose expertise and experience in Santa Monica’s artwork is invaluable. The youth met once a week (for eight weeks) exploring the rich displays of public art in the city.
Among the artwork photographed were ‘Santa Monica’ (1934) in Palisades Park by Eugene Monrahan, ‘Chain Reaction’ (1991) by Paul Conrad and’ The Dinosaurs of Santa Monica’ (1989) by Claude and Francois LaLanne.
The Santa Monica Human Relations Council, a partnership of local community organizations, individuals, institutions, and businesses endeavors to improve human relations and advocates a socially just community through its various projects.