The Faces of Bridesburg
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Funded by a BIG grant, this summer twenty teens aged 12-14 participated in a Smart Phone photography workshop that was led by Bridesburg resident Stacy Schwab. Based on a theme of “Portraits of Summer”, the students were taught how to capture faces around Bridesburg. They learned about lighting, composition, and how storytelling plays such a big role in taking a picture.
The teen photographers captured playground goers, swimmers and lifeguards, firefighters, businesses around Bridesburg and saved families for the last week during walking tours around the neighborhood.
An artist reception was held on Friday, October 6 from 6-8pm at I Knead Coffee, but you can still see these works of art as they will remain up at the Cafe through the end of October. Additionally, a temporary outdoor exhibit will be on display along the fence line of the new warehouse on Richmond Street near the Buckius Street corner.
The inspiration for this project was to connect people to their surroundings through mindfulness. Photography is the perfect mindful pursuit because it combines creativity and being fully aware and present in your surroundings. In Bridesburg, the connection was to the faces of the community, including the local businesses. Riverfront North will be continuing this smartphone photography workshop in the fall, this time in Frankford focusing on the natural world, including the Delaware Riverfront.
We hope this mindful pursuit can be further expanded within Borski Park when this new riverfront park opens to the public in early 2025.
Thank you to our partners on this project in Bridesburg – I Knead Coffee, Bridge Industrial and the William Penn Foundation. And thanks to the students, their families and the community on the whole for showing up and joining in with such enthusiasm!
Check out the video below to see the results!
Details on Frankford Photo Club coming soon!