By: Kaeson Warnes
In early Winter Quarter, I embarked on a project hosted by the Counseling and Wellness Center and funded by the Sustainability, Equity, and Justice Fund. This project, named “Through Our Lens”, which tells Western student stories through film photography. These student stories are told through Photovoice, a “participatory research method that empowers individuals to share their perspectives and lived experiences through art.” The goal: understanding student experiences of well-being and connection at WWU.
Image 1: “Through Our Lens” Gallery welcome sign. Image 2: A sign reading “See a photo you love? Place a heart sticker next to it!” Image 3: A collection of postcards featuring student photos, “Through Our Lens” fliers, and a Guest Book. // Kaeson Warnes
In the beginning, over 45 students eagerly participated in workshops to develop questions about the aspects of student life to explore through photography. Liz Stuart (Assistant Director of Outreach and Health Promotion) and Madison Wiese (Community Well-Being Specialist) connected with each student, engaging with us to understand our experience of what it means to be a student at Western. Through laughter, activities, and reflection, three questions were created to guide our project. These questions, along with interactive answers given by the community, are featured at the gallery event which showcases the culmination of the project:
Image 1: “How do you experience inclusivity (or not) at Western?” Image 2: “With other disabled people, queer people, survivors. There are systematic ways of exclusion we are all too familiar with. Gotta stick together.” Image 3: “When I am with people who support who I am.” // Kaeson Warnes
Image 1: “What makes you feel like you’re a part of something bigger (when you feel small)?” Image 2: “I think about my blood cells & how they are like little workers moving stuff where it needs to be.” Image 3: “The trees in the forest”. // Kaeson Warnes
Image 1: “How do you find sparks of joy in a community where worries might not be seen?” Image 2: “Seeing someone else smile.” // Kaeson Warnes
Film camera in hand, I went off to show how I “feel like I’m a part of something bigger (when I feel small)”. No editing. No staging. These photos showed raw emotion and creativity; something while working as a photographer I have not been able to engage with in a long time. Like any creative endeavor, this project experienced its own challenges and setbacks. The first set of film cameras, each with 24 unique, crafted pieces of art inside, got lost in the mail. Fortunately the project organizers reacted quickly to offer replacement cameras. 12 optimistic students reengaged with the project to once again capture what it means to be a student at Western. The three photos featured below are what I thought best described how I feel as a Western student.
Image 1: A person sits at the far side of the “Rock Rings” sculpture. Image 2: A person faces the camera and smiles while holding up a film camera to take a photo. Image 3: A landscape view of a daffodil/tulip field. // Kaeson Warnes
Featured below is a showcase of the sights that caught my eye while attending the gallery reception on May 9th:
A collection of photos taken at the “Through Our Lens” gallery event. // Kaeson Warnes
You can see the entirety of the project, which features all 12 of the participant’s photos, at the B Gallery until May 17th.