Bernard Baltimore learned a valuable lesson at an art program at Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences in Mount Greenwood: “You can make art out of anything.”
That’s how the 18-year-old senior described the process of producing his piece currently on display at EXPO Chicago, which continues through Sunday at Navy Pier.
Assisted by photographer Kat Bawden, he gathered dirt, rocks and bird feathers in the greenhouse at the school’s farm. Then, he placed those objects on light-sensitive paper and exposed them to sunlight. The result is a silver gelatin photogram featuring warm hues of pink, orange, yellow, brown and purple. Titled “Farm Landscape 2,” the piece is one of several created as part of the Artists in Public Schools’ residency program.
The nonprofit places established artists in Chicago Public Schools. And each year, the organization partners with EXPO Chicago to exhibit the collaborative work of the professionals and students, this year located in booth 148. With their creations placed in proximity to those of international professional artists, the teens are able to see their work — and themselves — in an exciting new light.
“It’s beautiful,” Baltimore said of his photogram. “It’s kind of crazy because when you put these pieces in these frames and it’s at this big expo, you’re thinking some high-profile artist would’ve made something like this.”
Other prints from the agricultural school students were created using plants, rain and even rope. They are placed near photographer Nyia Sissac’s black-and-white portraits of students from Frederick Douglass High School and Michele Clark High School in Austin. As she took their pictures, Sissac taught them about portraiture practices and encouraged them to journal as a way to interrogate the meaning of legacy.
“Students having access to an artist who is not their art teacher is just really powerful and inspiring, and gets them outside of the idea that maybe they can’t do this,” said Sophia Padgett Pérez, artistic director at Artists in Public Schools. “I want more young people to feel that they have access, that they have mentors, and so many artists who are rooting for them.”
The residency is also impactful for the professional artists. Coming from a family of farmers, artist Kat Bowden said she encouraged the agricultural school students to think about the transformations in life and nature as they watched their photographs develop.
“I was really interested in first tapping into their collective knowledge of how their farm works, and then also introducing them to some new ways to see and experience the natural environment,” said Bawden, 38, of Humboldt Park, who also gave the students writing exercises. “I know it’s been meaningful for them.”
Photographer Nyia Sissac also learned about students through their writing, and captured their feelings in her portraits.
“You see their laughter, joy, pain, sorrow, happiness and their love of photography that they put into this,” said Sissac, 25, of Lake View, whose work often explores the African American experience.
She said she intentionally captured some of the Black students with flowers “to bring softness into Black joy.”
“I feel like a lot of the times we aren’t allowed to be soft,” she said.
Sissac also said some students were anxious about having their photos taken, but eventually came around. She said she intended for them to see themselves as greater, stronger and more important than they might feel.
Michele Clark High School 10th-grader Meyasia Embrey said she didn’t consider herself photogenic, but changed her mind “a little bit” when she saw Sissac’s work.
“She knows how to take great photos,” said Embrey, who is 16. “She got a good photo of me.”
Also in the 10th grade at the school, Kenia Washington said working with Sissac was “very fun and different.”
“It was something that I never did before,” said Washington, also 16. “I usually don’t like taking pictures, but her pictures were fun. And I like the black and white. It brings out your features a little more.”
Sophia Padgett Pérez said she hopes the partnership with EXPO Chicago creates even more opportunities for public school students to be accepted by the art world.
“I think we need to continue to break down those barriers and know that art is for all.”