New club at center open to public
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Posted: Saturday, May 10, 2014 11:45 pm
If you enjoy taking pictures, exploring the beauty of northern Indiana, or sharing stories about your life, family and country, consider a new club recently established in South Bend.
The Still Art: Photography and Friendship Club presents its first exhibit, “The Picture,” an exhibit featuring the work of local amateur photographers, at the Robinson Community Learning Center.
It’s open to the public.
“The goal of this group that meets once a week at the Robinson Community Learning Center is to offer a space to people who like to share their passion for photography,” said Lu Ella Webster, AmeriCorps Adult Program director.
“The only requirement we have is that you have to like to take pictures and share some of the stories of your life, family and country. It’s a club, not a class,” she said.
More than 30 pictures are displayed that club members have taken in Chicago, Kenya, South Bend, Ireland and New Buffalo.
All pictures in the exhibit have been taken by the photographers themselves. The group also has professional photographers come in and teach the proper way to use a camera to shoot great photos.
“Many of my friends say I take strange pictures because I hardly ever shoot people,” said Reem Hassaen, a member of the club and a student at IUSB.
“I like to take pictures of things and animals. I got married in February and we went to Las Vegas, and I took that picture of a parrot. I just took my camera and stuck it in its cage and it’s almost like it posed for me. I’m always pulling out my iPhone and taking pictures.”
Justin Koselke, of Granger, who works for AmeriCorps, said he likes the club.
“I really like socializing and getting together after we finish taking pictures and sharing our work with each other. One of my favorite photos is this red phone booth in Bloomington. It just caught my eye so I took a picture of it and here it is on display for everyone to see.”
AmeriCorps provides opportunities for more than 85,000 Americans each year to give intensive services to their communities though programs.
AmeriCorps members tutor and mentor youths, teach computer skills, run after-school programs and build the capacity of nonprofit groups to become self-sustaining, among many other activities.
“There are all kinds of programs going on here at Robinson Community Learning Center from infants to seniors,” said Webster. “But there were really no programs for people in the middle ages so anyone between the ages of 20s through 40s and above can join. That’s why I wanted to start Still Art and it’s open to anyone who wants to join us.”