VISIONS OF HOPE: Moving Images by Teens with a Movie Camera

The voices and visions of teenagers rarely take center stage in professional exhibition spaces. Yet, young people in our communities hold valuable perspectives on the world.

“Teens with a Movie Camera” is an ongoing local art project that forms a bridge between media artists at Syracuse University and teens from across the city of Syracuse, in connection with the Engaged Humanities Network, Light Work / UVP, SU VPA, the North Side Learning Center, SCSD high schools, and CNY Arts.

Forging a new network of neighbors, TwMC’s hands-on workshops embrace the artistic potential of everyday tools such as smartphones, envisioning movies as a mode of personal expression and artistic exploration rather than a commercial product. The TwMC artist collective asks: can we reimagine filmmaking as an inclusive art practice, open to all? What can it look like to nurture new safe spaces for playful and imaginative engagement with media arts, as a way of building local community? Featured works will center upon themes of creativity and hope, emphasizing imagination as a pathway toward meaningful futures.