GROWING YOUNG ARTISTS IN THE BRONX: ‘THE CITY’ PHOTO COMPETITION SPOTLIGHTS BUDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS Annie Leibovitz and The Peninsula Hotels Create Program to Benefit Inner-City Students
NEW YORK (July 18, 2005) – This summer, inner-city students in the Hunts Point community of South Bronx are learning to look at their city in an entirely new way; through the lens of a camera. As students at ICP at The Point, an arts-based community center, they’re learning the art of photography and finding a new voice through self-expression. They’ll put their newfound skills to the test in “The City,” a photo essay competition that challenges them to capture their New York City on film. Students will also receive an opportunity many promising photographers only dream about: the chance to learn from famed photographer Annie Leibovitz, who will review their work and select images for a special exhibition she will host on October 24 at The Peninsula New York to raise funds for ICP at The Point. ICP at The Point, is a thriving photography center bringing together accomplished artists and photography students. This photographic center is the result of a partnership with the International Center of Photography and The Point, a non-profit organization dedicated to youth development and the cultural and economic revitalization of the South Bronx. The City, a program created by The Peninsula Hotels and Annie Leibovitz, is inspired by the ‘Portraits of Peninsula’ campaign shot by Annie Leibovitz, in which she captured the spirit of The Peninsula Hotels through a series of black and white portraits shot in Hong Kong and New York. The City competition encourages students to follow a similar vein, finding inspiration in their surroundings. “Annie Leibovitz amazed us with her masterful images for our ‘Portraits of Peninsula’ campaign and inspired us to collaborate on a project that would benefit our community,” said Dianna Balabon, Vice President of Marketing, the Americas and Europe, for The Peninsula Hotels. “We’re pleased to work with her to create this opportunity to give young photography students a voice and raise funds for ICP at The Point.” Ten-year-old Georgina Torres is one South Bronx student who has discovered the art of photography through the program. Like the other students in her class, she had never held a camera before her program at ICP at The Point. In her first class, she learned the principles of photography by making a pinhole camera out of an oatmeal box. Now, using a camera, film and dark room provided through the program, she’s shooting up and down her block, proud to show off the city where she lives. She’s also developing her black-and-white photos herself and plans to submit several in the competition in the hope of having her work shown in Annie Leibovitz’s October show. “It is important that programs like ICP at The Point exist, giving inner-city students the opportunity to strengthen their creative talents that might otherwise have never been discovered,” said Annie Leibovitz. “It is fascinating to see the students’ artistic vision in the photos which often show the city as a thing of beauty and hope.” “Most of our students come to us with no photographic experience,” said Vanessa Cruz, program manager at ICP at The Point. “Offering the opportunity to work with an artist such as Annie Leibovitz is both an honor and an inspiration for our students providing them with the opportunity to envision future possibilities for themselves.” This year’s The City competition is funded by The Peninsula Hotels, Larson-Juhl and AGENCYSACKS, with donations to benefit ICP at The Point. Underwritten through a three-year commitment from The Peninsula Hotels, The City will run competitions in New York, Hong Kong and Chicago to benefit local arts programs that serve underprivileged children. Photos shown in the exhibition will be sold at the annual fundraiser, with 50 percent of the proceeds going to ICP at The Point and the other 50 percent to the young artists. Photo essays submitted for The City competition will be curated by Annie Leibovitz. On October 24, 2005, they’ll be shown in a fundraising exhibition at The Peninsula New York. Tickets to the event are $200. For more information about The City or to purchase tickets, call 212-903-3873. # # # Media Contacts: Stacy Lewis/Stacey Copeland/Tove Sharp Murphy O’Brien, Inc. 310-453-2539
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