Experiences in Place: The First T.E.A.M. Exhibition highlights 32 photographs from the T.E.A.M. (Teen Education & Art Mentors) Program. T.E.A.M. is a collaborative effort between area high schools and University Galleries designed to engage teens through the visual arts. Students from Lexington, Olympia, and Tri- Valley High Schools created the photographs presented in this exhibition. Each work responds to themes present in the work of artist Melanie Schiff, whose exhibition, The stars are not wanted now, is on display in University Galleries concurrently with this exhibition at Milner Library.
The primary goal of the T.E.A.M. Program is to foster students' artistic exploration, critical thinking, and community involvement. Experiences in Place... allows students to present their work to a wide audience while demonstrating their personal reflections inspired by themes of contemporary artists such as Melanie Schiff.
Melanie Schiff is a photographer focusing on themes ranging from popular and youth culture, to landscape and the body in her work. Surveying diverse subjects, including still-life, landscape, and portraiture, her art seems to reflect moments suspended between the past and the present. Schiff also seeks to capture and preserve the moments when everyday objects and events come together to create an unexpected or remarkable effect.
Experiences in Place... is the first of three T.E.A.M. exhibitions. The second will take place at Milner Library from March 18 - May 9, 2013, and the final exhibition will occur from May 21 - July 27, 2013 in University Galleries. Ten additional high schools will be involved with the program.
This project is made possible through grants from the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation--Mirza Arts & Cultural Fund and a Town of Normal Harmon Arts Grant
University Galleries and Milner Library collaborated to present this exhibition.