Portraits of Life: Student Experiences
Background
Portraits of Life: Student Experiences is a tribute in words and photographs to student experiences of resilience, transformation and inspiration. It is the second Portraits of Lifeproject at Montgomery College.
The first, Holocaust Survivors of Montgomery County, was produced by the Paul Peck Humanities Institute in 2004-05 and has been exhibited in venues statewide.
This project, produced by the Montgomery College Arts Institute in cooperation with the Paul Peck Humanities Institute, focuses on unique stories from the diverse student population at Montgomery College.
It was made possible by grants from the Carl M. Freeman Foundation and the Montgomery College Foundation.
Portraits of Life: Student Experiences highlights and increases awareness of humanitarian issues and the conditions with which people throughout the world are suffering—stories told by students right here in our community. It shows that people can move beyond their personal experiences of suffering to contribute greatly to the world through their purposeful lives and belief in a better tomorrow.
About the Students
The people in this exhibit are from all corners of the globe. Despite their geographic and cultural differences, they have experienced similar emotions and lessons of triumph.Their stories demonstrate the best and worst behaviors of humanity. Most have overcome physical abuse, psychological trauma, wartime atrocities or other experiences of terror.
The common thread in these stories is an understanding of how their experiences have transformed them in positive ways, helping them become the incredible people they are today.
“It is important that people share their stories so others can learn.”
—Natalie Assing, a student in this exhibition.
Exhibit Schedule and Locations
January 9, 2009- April 17, 2009
Maryland House of Delegates Office Building
Annapolis, MD
March 4, 2009-April 20, 2009
Takoma Park Community Center, MD
December 8, 2008
Montgomery County Executive Office Building
Rockville, MD
October 15, 2008- January 7, 2009
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Arts Center
Silver Spring, MD
The exhibit is being scheduled for other venues. The schedule will be posted here as details are finalized, so please check back periodically.
For further information about this exhibit, or to host it at your venue, please contact:
David Fogel at
artsinstitute@montgomerycollege.edu
301-437-6652
David Phillips at david.phillips@montgomerycollege.edu
240-567-5831
