On Wednesday, March 9th from 6-8 p.m. at The Motor House (120 W North Avenue), Arts Every Day will host an open house and photography exhibit featuring the collaborative work of photographer Devin Allen and students at Windsor Hills Elementary/Middle School. This event kicks off a yearlong series of events celebrating the tenth anniversary of Arts Every Day and its commitment to helping teachers and students succeed together by integrating arts into Baltimore City’s classrooms.
The exhibition event and open house will feature a panel discussion with Devin Allen and his team of student photographers. “These are Baltimore City school students who are building self-confidence as they explore their world through the clarity of the camera lens,” says Arts Every Day Executive Director, Julia Di Bussolo, “We believe that the arts should reach every student, in every school, every day. Arts Every Day is proud to support this exciting collaboration with Devin Allen.”
Light refreshments, a photo booth, and tours of Arts Every Day’s new home at The Motor House will also be available.
Born and raised in West Baltimore, Allen found a creative outlet and refuge in photography. Last spring, his work documented the uprising surrounding Freddie Gray’s death while in police custody. Through his lens, he captured the frustration, anger, sadness and solidarity in Baltimore that gained national attention when riots broke out. Thanks in part to project and materials support from Arts Every Day, students are working with Allen to document their lives both in and out of school while learning the basics of documentary photography.
Arts Every Day has partnered with Windsor Hills Elementary/Middle School for four years playing a critical role weaving the arts throughout the building. The school’s Principal, Corey Basmajian, says,
“Arts Every Day promotes collaboration between arts teachers and our Math, English, Science, and Social Studies teachers. This inspires our students to apply classroom learning and express themselves through the arts. Arts Every Day has supported numerous partnerships between the arts community and Windsor Hills Elementary School. In addition to opening up professional development opportunities for teachers to explore arts integration, it has allowed our school community to focus on how the arts impacts instruction through meaningful projects, activities, and potentially life-changing opportunities and experiences.”
About Devin Allen
Devin Allen has been practicing portrait photography since 2005. Mr. Allen gained national attention when his documentary photography of the Baltimore Uprising was published on a Time Magazine cover in May 2015. He has been featured in New York Magazine, the Washington Post, the New York Times, Yahoo!, and the Baltimore City Paper. His work has also been exhibited in the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, museums in Washington D.C., and at Photoville in New York. He was also commissioned by Under Armour to photograph athletes such as basketball player Stephen Curry and boxer Saúl Álvarez. Mr. Allen is dedicated to empower young people to tell their stories, and continually teaches photography to students across Baltimore.