Have an Art Attack!

Assistant Professor Vaughn Wascovich, back row and wearing cap, poses with his intermediate and advanced photography students and alumni who worked with 30 Hallsville, Mo., high school students to produce a photo show in the town.

The intermediate and advanced photography students of Vaughn Wascovich delight in descending on small Missouri towns in what they call art attacks. For the past two semesters, Wascovich, assistant professor of Art, has selected a small town that could benefit from an infusion of art, specifically photography. The art attacks are planned as outreach programs to enrich the lives of kids who have little access to art, but they end up becoming community celebrations as well.

During three visits to a chosen community, Wascovich, his students and members of MU’s teamFOTO organization work with the local students to generate interest in photography and spread information about art at Mizzou. The project culminates in a community art show.

"As part of a public institution, I think we have an obligation to do this," Wascovich says. "I can imagine that wanting to be a painter or photographer must seem like a near impossibility, especially for kids living in small towns."

In fall semester 2005, the Mizzou group worked with 30 high school students in Hallsville, Mo., population 963. The previous semester’s project targeted fourth-through-eighth-grade shutterbugs from Sturgeon, Mo.

On a typical first visit, the Mizzou students discuss the elements of good photography and how photo art relates to career goals. The Mizzou students end the first session by giving a point-and-shoot camera to every interested kid. One of the Mizzou students collects the exposed film for developing and printing before the next meeting.

The second visit is a critique session. "Several of my students form small groups with the kids, talk about what makes a good image and help pick the best images," Wascovich says. The MU group carries the best images back to Mizzou for printing enlargements and framing.

The third visit is the favorite activity. The Mizzou group finds a location, hangs the framed photos and provides refreshments for a real art show. Community kids can invite the entire town to their photography show. Wascovich says the exhibits convey to viewers an "understanding of place" through the eyes of the neophyte photographers. He’s proud of what happens.

"My students can show the residents of these communities what jewels exist in their towns, both architecture and people," he says.

Mizzou art student Casey Reeves discusses photo quality with Hallsville, Mo., high school student Maegan Crouch. Reeves and other MU photo art students conducted an Art Attack in the town of 960 people.

Wascovich and teamFOTO cover the cost of the cameras, film processing and printing, framing and even refreshments for the exhibit. Last year all the students in Wascovich’s advanced photo class learned to knit and sold their handmade scarves to help sponsor the project.

Mizzou photo student Casey Reeves enjoys interacting with kids about conceptual photography. "It’s also really gratifying when the kids finally see their finished photo on display and know what they’re really capable of," he says.

Wascovich would like to expand the art attacks into long-term projects that include painters and sculptors showing their work during a weekend of music and arts in the small towns. He says he can envision Marching Mizzou parading through town to the art photography show.

The Hallsville student photography show was held Nov. 16 at Stella Studios, a photography business owned by two art alumni, Richelle (Crosby) Douglas, BFA ’03, and Sally Turner, BFA ’05. In winter semester 2006 the MU students will return to Hallsville to teach kids how to make pinhole cameras and process and print their own images.

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Vaughn Wascovich
Art Department