What’s this all about?
Throughout the fall of 2007, The Bridge-Progressive Arts Initiative is hosting an intergenerational photography and audio documentary workshop called Generations.

Six students from different Charlottesville high schools have been selected to take part in the three-month workshop that pairs them with senior citizens in nursing homes. The students are provided with digital SLR cameras and audio recording equipment for their visits with their new senior friends. The objective is for the students to listen and learn about the lives of the seniors, and to document their experience and stories through photographic and audio media.

The three months includes weekly visiting sessions between the students and seniors, and editing meetings at The Bridge.

A show is scheduled for the first Friday in February to be held at The Bridge.

The Generations project is designed to reach and expose the often forgotten lives of senior citizens in Charlottesville and beyond. It is a project from the community, and for the community.

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Who’s involved?

Paige Armstrong/Student
Paige is a senior at Western Albemarle High School. She is currently in Photo2 at her high school. Additionally, she has taken photography courses at UVA and Corcoran College of Art and Design. Her hobbies are skating, skiing, drawing, painting, graphic design, and studying art history. If Paige could eat one thing for the rest of her life it would be french toast.

Amelia Guido/Student
Amelia (Mimi) is a Junior at Western Albemarle High School. She is currently enrolled in Photo2 and digital imaging. She enjoys photography because she loves looking at pictures and being able to capture beautiful moments. Mimi’s hobbies include fashion, playing the guitar, and going to as many concerts as possible. Her favorite cereals are Lucky Charms…and Captain Crunch. She also thoroughly enjoys a box of Cheez-its. Mimi would have to admit that her favorite boy band is Boyz to Men.

Melanie Phillips/Student
Melanie is a Senior at Charlottesville high school. She’s been interested in photography since she was little, but didn’t really take is seriously until two years ago when she took a class while in NY. Last year she took B&W Photo 1, and this year she’s doing an independent study of advanced B&W photography. Melanie hopes to study photojournalism in college next year. Her favorite boy band is Backstreet Boys. Of course! And, she’s a sucker for Twizzlers.

Sydnie Soyka/Student
Sydnie is a Senior at Tandem Friends High School. She found photography accidentally in her sophomore year and is currently enrolled in AP photography. Her hobbies include soccer, athletic training at UVA, and more soccer. The love of Sydnie’s life is David Beckham.

Hilary Walker/Student
Hilary is a Junior at Charlottesville High School. She’s taken photography at camp for three years and this year is studying black and white photo at school. Besides photography she likes to play the guitar, surf, ski, hang out with friends, and travel. Hilary’s favorite cereal is Honey Bunches of Oats.

Corbett Wicks/Student
Corbett is a Senior at St. Anne’s-Belfield. She has taken photo1 and photo2 in black and white film. Her favorite camera is her “toy” Holga. She has participated in yearbook the past two years and serves as co-editor this year. Her other hobbies include lacrosse, cross-country, and writing.
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Ross McDermott/Project Leader- Ross is a freelance photographer based in Charlottesville, Virginia. He received an undergraduate degree in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. Upon graduation, he decided to delve into the world of photography and lived for a year in Japan, documenting the culture and building a portfolio. Upon returning to the States in 2006, Ross has worked as a freelance photographer, taking him to several countries in Africa, India, and a U.S. Marine boot camp.

Casey Templeton/Instructor- Casey is a freelance photographer from Harrisonburg, Virginia. After being named the 2005 College Photographer of the Year, he graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Media Arts and Design. In late 2006, Casey wrapped up a successful internship with National Geographic magazine. While in school, he studied feature and news writing, web design with programs such as Flash, Dreamweaver, In Design, and Photoshop.

The Bridge-PAI/Collaborator- The Bridge is a Charlottesville based initiative which aims to strengthen and enrich community through collaborative interaction in the arts. It promotes an active exchange between artists, organizations, and various facets of the community. It sponsors events and programs which serve to enhance social awareness and build Social Capital/ community through diversified, educational, and creative programming.