Photographs of the street children in Cusco, Peru, taken by Emily Pederson '08 during her Haney Fellowship last summer have earned her a Silver Key Award in The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards of 2008. The national contest offers early recognition of creative teenagers and scholarship opportunities for graduating seniors. Administered by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, the Rhode Island affiliate for the Awards Program is the R.I. Art Education Association, Rhode Island College and The Bannister Gallery at Rhode Island College.
Pederson's entry was selected by area professional artists, graphic designers and retired art educators from a large field of Rhode Island entries. The Silver Key distinction is awarded for "Artwork demonstrating achievement worthy of recognition on the regional level."
Of her photographs, Pederson said," I took the pictures on my volunteering trip to Peru last summer. The kids in the photographs dress up in 'typical clothing' and make a living off tips from tourist's snapshots. Most of the children live on the street. I wanted to catch them in their unposed moments and show something genuine amid the city's consumerized culture."
Pederson traveled to Cusco for one month under the auspices of the non-proft organization United Planet to live with a local family while assisting street children with English, school work and life skills.
Pederson's Portsmouth art teachers praised her talent: "Emily's photographs documenting her adventure in Peru are well crafted and exude a thoughtfulness rarely seen in the work of artists with twice the experience of this Portsmouth Abbey Sixth Former," said Dan McManus, Visual Arts instructor. "Emily has a really great 'eye' for compositions, primarily of people," added Colleen Sanchez, head of Visual Arts, "and she continues to develop her skill independently. She is a talented photographer."
Pederson will be recognized with a Silver Key lapel pin and certificate at a Regional Ceremony to be held at Rhode Island College on Sunday, February 10, at 2 pm. Her work, along with that of the other Silver Key winners, Gold Key winners, and American Visions, the top award winners, will be on display from February 10 through February 28 at The Bannister Gallery at Rhode Island College.
View a selection of Emily's photos here.
Congratulations, Emily!
