New Philadelphia — For Dover High School sophomore Daisy Raymund, attending a summer art camp was an opportunity to explore her own Guatemalan culture through photography.
“It helped me learn more about who I am and what my culture means to me,” said the 15-year-old. I was able to connect more with the people who live in
The clothing and food images “show how colorful and beautiful our culture is,” she said.
Her work, and that of nine other Latino and Hispanic students in grades 6-12, is on display at the Tuscarawas County Public Library at 121 Fair Ave. NW. They created the images and accompanying stories at the Adelante Arts Camp held in the summer. Adelante means “please” in Spanish. The theme of the camp is “The Art That Moves Us Forward”.
The camp was inspired by the Latino Mural Project organized by the Tuscarawas Arts Partnership and the Tuscarawas County Public Library System for Summer 2021. Students collaborated on the “Brighter Together” mural on the east side of MAD Bros. Games & Hobbies at 139 W. High Avenue in downtown New Philadelphia.
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Joseph Welty Middle School 7th grade student Araceli Ajanel Herrera participated in both projects.
In the stories that accompany her photos, Araceli learned how to take proper photos and edit them to make them better.
“I’m happy with the pictures I took because they remind me of the moment I took them and I have good memories,” she wrote. I like.”
According to Wilma K. Mullet, Executive Director of the Tuscarawas Arts Partnership, the goal of the Adelante Arts Camp is to bring local Latino students to creatively express themselves, share their stories, and celebrate their culture and individuality in new ways. To provide an environment for exploring the art form.
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Photography instructor Maddie Weaver said she was proud of her students at the exhibition’s opening reception on Tuesday.
“I am blown away by you guys,” she said. “The students have worked hard to learn the camera and I think it has really paid off. They did a great job. I hope you see yourself as an artist.”
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Sherrel Rieger ended up working as an interpreter at an art camp, but took on another role because all the students wanted to speak English.
“I was their cheerleader and told them to write about life here in America and their culture in America,” Rieger said. We saw them take great pride in their family and we can see that in all their photos.”
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Noelia Shika, an eighth grader in Dover, took pictures of her mother cooking Guatemalan food and her colorful, sparkly clothes.
“At first I was a little confused by my culture, but I learned that it is unique and I don’t need to be shy,” she wrote.
New Philadelphia seventh grader Juan Ajanel Velázquez wrote that he took a picture of his cousin Bub.
Other images reflect local locations. For example, a nighttime shot of the “Welcome to Our City” sign in New Philadelphia. Words of light seem to float in the sky, their underlying structure lost in the darkness.
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The students’ photos and writings have been compiled into a book called Through Our Lens: A Glimpse at Our Latino Culture. Copies can be ordered from his Tuscarawas Arts Partnership website at Adelante Arts Camp — Tuscarawas Arts Partnership until October 28th. Proceeds will be used for next year’s summer camp.
Donors and supporters of the 2022 Adelante Arts Camp were Friends of the Library, Hugh A. Fraiser Fund, ProVia, United Way, and Walmart Community Grant.
Raymundo expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to attend Arts Camp.
“I really appreciate the people who called me to join the program because it meant they had me in mind,” she said.
Other students appearing in the exhibit are: Santiaga Hernández Hernández, an eighth grader from New Philadelphia. Cepelina Hernandez Hernandez, seventh grader from New Philadelphia. Yohayra Mejía Agustín, her 11th grader from Dover. Brayden Mendoza-Ramirez, New in his sixth grade from Philadelphia. Yonny Mendoza Ramirez, a 9th grade student from New Philadelphia. Sara Petrona Cediro de Leon from Dover.
Contact Nancy at 330-364-8402 or nancy.molnar@timesreporter.com.
Twitter: @nmolnarTR