IMAGINE explores youth, identity, and self

IMAGINE was a photography exhibition at the Mullumbimby Youth Cottage that was the culmination of ten weeks of work by young people in Mullumbimby as part of Project YES. 

This project was an experiment with photography giving participants the opportunity for the exploration of self and environment whilst developing a range of techniques and artistic expressions throughout the ten-week course. 

‘The exhibition was outstanding,’ project coordinator Jacqui Adams told The Echo. 

Margo Hills collaborates with Jacqui as an art creative facilitator during the course which was funded by the Children and Young People Wellbeing Recovery Initiative.

‘The course focused on the representation of identity, authentic self, and the emotions that present through this exploration, all pieces displayed came to life through experimentation and play using photographs, collage, painting and mixed media. Artists engaged in an examination of self by documenting who they are and how they feel in the context of place, image, items of personal value, physical representation. This was done by playing with different filters and points of vision when photographing and documenting the self and followed by further examination using other creative mediums.

‘Seeing the young people’s hard work being displayed where community and family were engaged was really beautiful for them. You could see the proud moment in their eyes to see it displayed so beautifully.’

The course runs at the Mullumbimby Youth Cottage by Byron Youth Service on a Monday afternoon 3–5pm during term time and is designed for young women and non-binary young youth. They will have another course starting next term on Monday 24 April and there are still spaces available. To enroll or find out more call Jacqui on 0492 901 763 or email: [email protected].