NEWSLETTER
"Captured at a Distance" Virtual Gallery on Display Now
Bethel, N.Y. – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, located at the historic site of the 1969 Woodstock festival, today announced a virtual gallery titled “Captured at a Distance.” The exhibit is the culminating project of teen participants in the Center’s Project: Identity Photography program. “Captured at a Distance” offers a glimpse into the lives of students before and during social distancing practices and stay-at-home mandates.
Project: Identity Photography is a free program that teaches the basics of photography, composition, and camera use, as well as editing tools such as Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. Each participant is given a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera, and paired with live courses and critiques, they learn to express their feelings, thoughts, and hopes for the future using photography. Additionally, students engage in workshops, experience visits with guest photographers, and enjoy on and off-site shoots and excursions.
While the final exhibition is typically hosted in the Event Gallery, the program is now virtual in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We started off meeting a few times in person and then the pandemic threw us a curve ball. We did not let it stop us; we picked up and used the resources and information we had and kept the creativity flowing. This group of creative individuals flourished with their art. I was proud to see what they were submitting and how they were developing each week. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for these students,” said Stacy Roerig, Lead Teaching Artist.
John M. Madera, a 12th grader at Roscoe Central School, described a photo he took by saying, “I was trying to convey my longing to go back to school. Don’t take the little things for granted: spending time with friends, teachers, and people in school; the feeling of being in the senior lounge; sitting in a classroom. These are real things to be missed right now.”
Bethel Woods will showcase the students’ work in multiple ways, including a photobook, throughout their social media, and on display in The Museum at Bethel Woods. To view the virtual gallery now, please visit www.BethelWoodsCenter.org/CapturedAtADistance.
Funding for Project Identity Photography has been provided in part by the Phillip and Edith Leonian Foundation and by Bethel Woods Center for the Arts members and donors.
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About Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts inspires, educates, and empowers individuals through the arts and humanities by presenting a diverse selection of culturally-rich performances, popular artists, and community and educational programming. Located 90 miles from New York City at the site of the 1969 Woodstock festival in Bethel, NY, the lush 800-acre campus includes a Pavilion Stage amphitheater with seating for 15,000, an intimate 440-seat indoor Event Gallery, the award-winning Museum at Bethel Woods, and a Conservatory for arts education programming.
Through the in-depth study and exhibition of the social, political, and cultural events of the 1960s, as well as the preservation of the historic site of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, Bethel Woods educates individuals about the issues and lessons of the decade while inspiring a new generation to contribute positively to the world around them. The not-for-profit organization relies on the generous support of individuals, corporations, and foundations to develop and sustain programs that improve the quality of life in the region and beyond.
For more information please visit www.BethelWoodsCenter.org.
Media Contact:
Bridget Smith
v.845.583.2179
Photos & Interviews may be available upon request