National Geographic Photo Camp Pop-Up Exhibition, My Community Means Home, Opens at the National Museum of Wildlife Art

The National Museum of Wildlife Art (NMWA) will open My Community Means Home on Friday, October 18, 2024. Curated by National Geographic Explorer Kirsten Elstner, My Community Means Home showcases the unique voices and perspectives of 40 young people across Wyoming as they embrace stories of their past, present, and future through photography and writing. The show will be on view through November 17, 2024.

“It’s an honor to share the works of Photo Camp students at the National Museum of Wildlife Art,” says Elstner. “The students’ voices are the heart of Photo Camp, and this exhibit highlights their ideas and the powerful words and images they’ve created to show us what it means to be a young person in Wyoming today, from their own perspective. We see Photo Camp as a means to develop relationships and forge connections, using the power of storytelling to build community. We hope the students are as proud of their work as we are to call them our alumni.”

These stunning photos and powerful written works were created during two National Geographic Photo Camps in 2023 and 2024. National Geographic Photo Camp is an immersive week-long experience where young people receive instruction and guidance from world-class National Geographic Explorers and photographers, to build their skills and confidence, explore the world around them, and develop deep connections with each other and their community.

“We are thrilled to host this impactful exhibition at the Museum,” says Steve Seamons, Executive Director of the National Museum of Wildlife Art. “Our mission is to impart knowledge and generate wonder through art and education, and this exhibition clearly aligns with both of those directives. The Museum is a space for emerging artists to find their inspiration, hone their craft, and display their work at the highest level.”

The exhibition highlights the landscapes, as well as the beauty and resilience of the people of Wyoming and the Wind River Reservation, seen through the lens of youth representing Latinx, Northern Arapaho, Eastern Shoshone, and other communities across the state.

My Community Means Home illuminates the power of the bonds within our own communities and leaves audiences with a sense of belonging.

A free public opening celebration will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on October 18, at the National Museum of Wildlife Art. There will be complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic drinks at this event. My Community Means Home is generously sponsored by Lea Charitable Trust and Trudi & Robert Murch.

ABOUT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO CAMP

National Geographic Photo Camp provides a meaningful introduction to photography for young people around the world.

The mission of Photo Camp is to inspire the next generation of storytellers, as they share their ideas and see the power of their own voice through photography and writing. Through intimate presentations in their own communities and public exhibitions that reach millions of viewers, National Geographic Photo Camp showcases global youth perspectives on issues that are important to all of us.

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