Accomplishments in 2022 at the Weston Collective
It is crazy how fast the past year has flown by and how busy we have all been! So, we thought it would be interesting to our community to share a summary of all the fantastic things that happened this past year and our vision for the future!
After-School Photography Programming
In 2022, TWC reached new heights in student numbers, increased the photographic community's participation, expanded the number of shows opened, and strengthened our stability through funds raised! For example, in 2022, the Weston Collective had over 30 students enrolled in after-school programs and electives at Martin Luther King School Jr. for the Arts (MLK SOA) in Seaside. The expanded programming was largely possible because of the generous grants that TWC applied for and received, including from the Chapman Foundation ($10,000) and the California Arts Council ($19,000). These grants helped pay teacher salaries and allowed us to purchase much-needed top-of-the-line digital cameras, computers, calibrated screens, and editing software. The digital lab and cameras were instrumental in increasing student enrollment numbers. We are currently working on grants for 2023 and hope to receive the same funding (or more), allowing TWC to continue its after-school and elective programming at MLK SOA.
Facing Seaside I and II
Ian Ogelsby. the Mayer of Seaside. greeting students in the Weston Collective's After School Photo Program. ©Michelle Magdalena
TWC is also thrilled to have curated and opened two shows this year, Facing Seaside I and II, at its headquarters. We hope the shows will become a growing annual exhibition series; the connections between local businesses and students are integral in teaching students the art of photography and how it can be a profession! Zach has been thrilled to exhibit his work alongside MLK SOA fifth and sixth graders in the after-school program and with our talented volunteer, Nadia Guttierez. Both exhibitions are made possible through generous grants we applied for with the Arts Council for Monterey County; they have been great supporters since we reopened our doors! In addition, we were honored to be a part of the Seaside and Oaxaca Sister City Signing, where Facing Seaside I was exhibited at the Oldemeyer Center. Facing Seaside II is currently on view, with a portion of the Weston Scholarship Show, at the Pacific Grove Arts Center. It is part of the larger show, The Center for Photographic Art Celebrates.
The 2022 Weston Scholarship Exhibition
The 2022 Weston Scholarship winning photographers in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties! ©Kaitlin Emmons
Speaking of exhibitions, the Weston Scholarship and show at the Monterey Museum of Art was a huge success! We are delighted to continue to award high school and local college students the scholarship and opportunity to exhibit their work at the museum. We are always looking to expand the scholarship amounts, and if you or someone you know is interested in having a scholarship category in their honor, please reach out! We anticipate more students than ever applying and are also looking to expand the number of schools included!
Jorge Torres - Artist in Residence
2023 will also mark the inaugural artist-in-residency programs at TWC. Jorge Torres is underway with his fantastic mural, and we will celebrate the completion with a show and unveiling where all are welcome. A generous grant from the Arts Council for Monterey County provided the artist's honorarium and funds for supplies.
Nadia Gutierrez
Counterpoint Coffee Shop who was involved in Facing Seaside II. ©Nadia Gutierrez
In addition, Nadia Guttierez is our first photographer-in-residence. Her creative work was shown in Facing Seaside II, and we hope she will have the opportunity to show the photographs she has been creating in the community darkroom this spring. Nadia is an instrumental member of the TWC team, and every week, she enthusiastically volunteers her time to work with the MLK SOA students and community darkroom participants.
The Community Darkroom
In addition to Jorge and Nadia, we have a growing number of Seaside and Monterey Bay photography community members using the darkroom and studio at TWC. Last semester the weekly community darkroom course was a huge success. This semester, we offer the class twice a week for three hours, on Mondays and Wednesdays, where photographers from our community come together to create and collaborate in the darkroom. We have ten members signed up this semester and aim to have a small exhibition with their work and Nadia's in the late spring. Stay tuned!
Weston Collective Funding in 2022
Youth Artists working on Facing Seaside II at the Weston Collective
All this activity is made possible through grants and donations. This year the Weston Collective has received $40,000 in grants and raised over $13,000 through the end-of-the-year fundraiser Monterey County Gives (McGives). Through McGives, we received donations from individuals throughout the county and country and are incredibly grateful! With this grant money and generous donations, we are excited to continue to grow and offer photography classes and darkroom space to students and photographers throughout Monterey County! Our first workshop this year is on February 25th, 2023, where Chuck Potter will lead a lighting seminar!
We look forward to seeing you at the seminar or another event at the Weston Collective in 2023!