Read the press release here: http://tinyurl.com/25vhwub

Support Focus on Youth today!

Support our great program, mingle, check out the auction wares and have a great time. See you there!

Gresham Visual Arts Gallery
“Color Explosion”
See photographs by Focus on Youth students, Hannah Beazley, Marie Louis,
EXHIBIT DATE: January 1st – March 4th
LOCATION: Gresham City Hall, Public Safety & Schools Bldg., 1333 NW Eastman Parkway, Gresham, OR 97030
Can’t make it to Gresham Arts Gallery? View the Exhibit Online

Palio Dessert & Espresso House
A little bit of Europe in the center of Ladd’s Addition.
1996 SE Ladd Ave., Portland, OR

Upcoming Exhibits

Blue Sky Gallery
EXHIBIT DATE: March 2010
LOCATION: 122 NW 8th Avenue, Portland, OR

Q Center
EXHIBIT DATE: April 2010
LOCATION: 4115 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR

Don’t forget that Focus on Youth has a permanent installment at Intel in Hillsboro!

“COLOR EXPLOSION”

Artists Reception, Tuesday February 16, 2010

5:30 to 7 PM

Gresham Visual Arts Gallery

Public Safety & Schools Building

1333 NW Eastman Parkway, Gresham OR 97030

Exhibit will be held from January 15, 2010 to March 4, 2010Photography Exhibit

Click here for a pdf

I was born in Liberia, Africa, and I am the third of seven children.  My father was a fishermen and my mom sold fish at the market.  My life with my family was good until the war.  When I was seven years old the rebels waked my family up in the middle of the night.  The rebels dragged my mom out of the house by her hair, and the rebels beat our entire family with the butts of AK47 rifles.  They forced us to walk from our village to the city, beating us all along the way for two days.  When we got to the city they locked us up in a house, but we later escaped and ran away.   We walked for 4 days to Sierra Leone to a village so that we would not be killed. We had no food, no clothes, nothing.  At a refugee camp they gave us tents and bulgur wheat and rice.

Every day we had to get up at 5 AM and stand in line for several hours to get food to eat. My father went everyday to the river to fish and the rebels killed him.  For three years we lived in the refugee camp until we were allowed to come to the United States.

In 2005 I came to The Portland International Community School.  The teachers treated me with love and respect and taught me things I did not know before.  That is why I love the school.

I came to Focus on Youth in 2008 and started learning photography.  I attended all the classes and focused on my assignments and I was respectful of all the mentors.  I always try to do my best in photography.   When I am taking photographs I see the beauty and I just go for it. The beauty I see and am able to photograph makes me forget the painful things that happened in Liberia.

Donna Lee was my teacher and the director of Focus on Youth.  She is an amazing kind person, and she loves working with kids from difference countries.  Donna Lee encourages me to believe in myself and she helps me achieve my goals.  Every time we go out taking photos Donna Lee always tells me I am a great photographer.  She encourages me to stay in school and do my best.

I have made up my mind to become a photographer when I graduate, because I love taking photographs.  Since being part of Focus on Youth I have learned to operate a camera and take photographs I am proud of.  We endured many hardships while living in a refugee camp before being granted asylum in the United States.  I found the opportunities I was looking for when became a student and The Portland International Community School and joined the Focus on Youth Photography Project.

RHR

The auction will be held at The Pacific Northwest College of Art in the Pearl on May 1, 2010.  This exciting event will celebrate the talent of our most exceptional Focus on youth students and world-renowned photographers who have kindly donated their works of art for our cause. There will be delicious hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and music.

Auction Volunteers Needed

We need volunteers to assist with the all aspects of producing and presenting  this exciting event from selling tickets to setting up the day before the event.  To learn more about volunteering or sign up as a volunteer please contact Donna Lee Holmes at 503-341-6878.

Donate Your Fine Art

We are inviting artists and photographers to donate a work of art so that the proceeds from the sale of the art will go directly to our youth program.   We are inviting artists and photographers to donate a work of art for our auction to help at-risk youth.  You will receive two complimentary tickets to the auction, and publicity on our website with a link to your website.  To donate please contact Donna Lee Holmes at 503-341-6878.

Purchase Auction Tickets

To purchase tickets please contact Cassie Lay at 503 803-3180.

Become a Corporate Sponsor

To become a corporate sponsor of  this event or to sponsor a Focus on Youth student please contact Donna Lee Holmes at 503 341-6878.

Read more about the Focus on Youth Auction

Download FOY Auction pdf

Gresham Visual Arts Gallery: 1333 NW Eastman Parkway, Gresham Oregon  February 1, 2010 to March 4, 2010

Blue Sky Gallery: 122 NW 8th Ave  Portland OR   March 4, 2010 to April 1, 2010

The Portland Q Center:  4115 N Mississippi  March 1, 2010 to April 1, 2010

Online Exhibit: Focus on Youth and Students in Perth Scotland  March 1, 2010 to April 1, 2010Student

As someone interested in the enrichment of Portland’s photographic community, you’ll be interested in and inspired by the work being done to support our area “at risk” youth using the power of photography. FOCUS ON YOUTH calls upon photography to provide focus, self-fulfillment, an appreciation for art, personal direction and a commitment to stay in school to some of our most disadvantage teens. It’s an organization doing our social work by using our photographic passion as a way of motivating and inspiring youth to realize their potential.

FOCUS ON YOUTH is an organization with a mission that we can all support. That we must support. Whether it’s monetary donations, equipment contributions, being a vocal advocate or volunteering time as a mentor, we all can play an important role in the FOCUS ON YOUTH program.

Later this week, the PMPN’s Student Gallery will feature the work of these young and deserving photographic artists. Stay tuned, and stay involved.

Your friend in photography,

Tom Hubbard

Publisher
Portland Metro Photographic News
hub@pmpnonline.com
http://www.pmpnonline.com/