The Mobile Pinhole Project

OUR FIRST VANCAM EXPERIENCE WITH THE LITTLE ONES!

We tried out our curriculum in an abbreviated, action packed afternoon of learning about photography with 22 young people aged 8-10.  The kids loved exploring the neighborhood with their framing tool (brightly colored construction paper frames) and had amazing insight into what their photos showed about the neighbors.  And watch out! These whippersnappers understood the operations of a camera and light in record speed.  Hello, next generation of photographers!

We extended our curriculum for the teens at Alexandria House to include 3 sessions where the youth photographed Koreatown with Polaroid Cameras, learned about photography using the VanCam and then made their own pinhole cameras to complete an additional shoot.  The youth had great things to say about what their photos revealed about the Koreatown neighborhood, commenting on the culinary diversity, major schools and what the side walks said about the people who inhabit the area. In the second workshop, the youth got really into the idea that you could make a camera out of anything and brought in some unique items for our pinhole building session.  The highlight was when they were inspired to make a camera out of an old globe!

On December 10^th, 2011 Artist Bailout held their third public meal to provide funding to new works being developed by artists in Los Angeles. Up against six other organizations, Mobile Pinhole Project won a $1,000 grant to further its effort to provide programming to children across Los Angeles. The grant allowed us to purchase supplies for three upcoming workshops in new neighborhoods and complete some necessary repairs on the van to keep her rolling safely.

We’d like to thank everyone who came to dinner and helped us with donations and votes!

Don’t worry, it is never too late to donate. Simply go to our donate page. If you’d like to donate time instead, fill out a volunteer form and help the organization as an intern or volunteer.

Mobile Pinhole Project Founder, Jonas, receiving our giant grant check!

We had a very successful week long fund raising event using IndieGoGo where we raised our goal of $1,111 dollars to cover some necessary maintenance for the van.  Thank you to everyone who contributed and passed the word along.

But the effort doesn’t stop there!  This is just the beginning of our fund raising effort. We will continue our campaign to cover our programming and material costs through the rest of this year.

The Mobile Pinhole Project brings arts education to children who would otherwise go without, teaching them photography by allowing them to go inside the camera.  To ensure this awesome work continues, consider donating what you can and re-post, forward and spread the word!

http://mobilepinholeproject.tumblr.com/donate

Thanks again.

P.S. A 25$ Donation gets you a hand screen printed MPP T-shirt - This American Apparel cotton T will make you look amazing

and provides VanCam maintenance costs for one workshop. What a steal! (amount over $4 is tax-deductible)

Thanks to everyone at Central City Action Committee, the first Mobile Pinhole Project neighborhood workshop was an amazing success. Our young participants were eager and excited to re-examine their neighborhood community through a visual lens. The “oohs” and “ahhs” from the kids when we went INSIDE the camera to show them the simple light + darkened-box + paper operation of photography really made all the hard work worth it.  At the end of the day, the kids walked away having created a number of awesome and creative polaroid self-portraits, as well as photographs representing their take on the Echo Park community. In our wrap up, it was inspiring to see the participants using their newly acquired vocabulary to discuss the power of visually representing their ideas and culture.  To add to the pitter patter to my photographer heart, many of the kids talked about the new ways they were planning on using photography and how the workshop increased their understanding and interest in art.  Stay tuned for our fall workshop schedule…coming to a neighborhood near you!

For a more detailed account, check out what our intern Julie had to say about the day

The Mobile Pinhole Project brings innovative, experiential photography workshops to youth across the city of Los Angeles using the VanCam, a van retrofitted into a giant pinhole camera. In day-long workshops, youth work together to create a large format photograph that frames their collective insight into identity, culture, and place.  Be sure to follow the VanCam on Tumblr and Twitter and like our Facebook to keep up to date on our progress.

To bring the Mobile Pinhole Project to your neighborhood, make a donation, or volunteer email us at the MobilePinholeProject@gmail.com.

Introducing The VanCam, our pinhole camera on wheels