5/4/2006 - Jean Nash Johnson

Dallas Morning News

It turned out to be an unusually frigid and cloudy spring morning. But that didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the dozen young wannabe shutterbugs as they set out to explore the streets of their South Dallas neighborhood. "Think about architecture, the shotgun-style houses, for example," instructed mentor and photographer David Herman Jr., 34, just before the students left H.S. Thompson Learning Center. "My grandmother told me about the shotgun houses," said an excited Darney Butler, 11. "She said in the morning the sun shines through the door straight through the house." "Think about what's unique around you. Take charge and go forth," Mr. Herman commanded. The sixth-graders were participating in Point of View, a 12-week photojournalism course run by Preservation Link and backed by the Foundation for Community Empowerment. (See box, Page 11.) The course drew 90 youngsters, ages 9 to 17, from five DISD schools. On this day, Thompson students took pictures for a yearlong touring exhibition: "Through the Eyes of Our Children - Something Beautiful." The exhibit opens Tuesday at the Dallas Museum of Art. While having their photography on display in museums and galleries was a big deal, students such as Luisa Villa, 11, and Darney said working with Mr. Herman was the real reward.

Students with their borrowed digital cameras stopped to bask in community treasures that had been taken for granted or outright ignored. Their eyes feasted on images they had never focused on before. Two cats A worn church building came to life when J.L. Griffin, 12, and Babi Tafesse, 11, spotted two feline inhabitants emerging to check out the visitors. "Wow, I think the white one came out of that hole," said J.L., pointing to the small opening near the foundation. Babi gingerly clutched his small hands around the camera, zooming in to try to get both cats. "Do you see both of them? One of them ran away," he whispered disappointedly to J.L. Mr. Herman gently coached the boys to think about the words on the church building: "New Life Christian Fellowship Church, Pastor: Elder Vernon Hunt, Jr." Then he! asked them: "Think deeply about the sign, the irony ... and the possi ble members." The two boys wondered a bit about the members. Then they pursued another shot of the cats. They are perhaps too young to fully understand the power of this assignment and how much voice their work will give to a community that is in much need of rebirth, Mr. Herman pointed out. Peaches Dogs dotted Samuel Jordan's front yard as Maria Novoa, 12, and Anabel Prado, 11, stopped to interview the 70-year-old resident. "We are looking for something beautiful," the girls announced. Mr. Jordan told the group that his children were grown and gone. His "precious and beautiful Pomeranians" gave him happiness. "This is Peaches," he said, posing the tiniest pooch next to his cheek and striking a smile until he heard a click. Melani Brundage, 21, Mr. Herman's assistant, suggested the girls come in closer and shoot at a vertical angle. Searching for a sign A block away, Asia Royal, 12, shivered as she wondered out loud why so many! houses were boarded up. As she searched for positive signs, she admitted she was getting frustrated. Her partner, Jasmine Oliver, 12, contemplated taking a shot of a gigantic tree stump that she concluded once formed the base of a majestic maple or oak. As she questioned why someone would cut down the tree, a loud noise broke her concentration. The not-so-shy Jasmine and a less-bold Asia moved on to a yard where Lorenzo Bennett, 46, operated a weed trimmer. Mr. Bennett explained that he had just mowed his own lot when he saw that the yard next to his needed work. So he moved over and continued mowing. "That's something beautiful!" said Asia. Back in the day After more than an hour, the outing started to wind down.

In twos, they began to make their way back to school. Suddenly, an exotic flowering plant in Louise Whitaker's yard caught Babi's eye. The boy walked up to the porch, and just as he was going to knock and ask for permissi! on, the screened door opened to a smiling Mrs. Whitaker. By that time several in the group had gathered near the porch. Mrs. Whitaker, 89, told them she had been in the house for 66 years. Her children were gone, her husband deceased. She told them the neighborhood used to be a place of pride - Sunday gatherings after church with lots of food, festive Easter egg hunts and fancy birthday celebrations, friends looking after each another. Most of those friends were gone, and she was sad about the changes in the neighborhood, she said, but grateful for the children's interest. "Everybody took care of each other. Everybody went to church. It was a nice time for our neighborhood." E-mail jnjohnson@dallasnews.com. POINT OF VIEW What: Photo exhibit "Through the Eyes of Our Children - Something Beautiful" When and where: May 9-19, Dallas Museum of Art; June 2-22, Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center More info: More than 100 photographs will travel for a year to other locations, including the African A! merican Museum, CityArts Celebration and the city of Houston. Call 214-293-5352 for other details. The Point of View photo project gains success from its backers: the Foundation for Community Empowerment, a nonprofit organization that rebuilds low-income neighborhoods in Dallas, and Preservation Link, a group that promotes art and culture. Five DISD schools and 90 students participated this year: Lincoln High School, H.S. Thompson Learning Center, Pearl C. Anderson Middle School, Charles Rice Elementary School and J.J. Rhoads Elementary School. For more information, go to fcedallas.org and preservationlink.org.