Wild Rice Under the Lens
David (Voyageurs Expeditionary High School) Originally published February 2005Gaining insight into the community and utilizing resources has been a consistent theme at Voyageurs Expeditionary High School. Voyageurs, located just outside of Bemidji, MN utilizes the Expeditionary Learning Outward Bound educational model as its curricular framework.
Highlighting creativity and innovation are two concepts evident in a recent artist in residence program held at Voyageurs.
Barry Kleider, a professional photographer from Minneapolis, spent one week with Voyageurs students helping to document the importance of wild rice. It was a fantastic week that culminated in an evening demonstration of student work, entitled “Wild Rice Under the Lens.” This activity was subsidized with a Minnesota State Arts grant.
A core group of students worked intensely with Barry, learning digital photography intricacies, along with Adobe software editing. The students now plan to use their skills as the newspaper and yearbook staff. Their work will be displayed throughout the community in the next couple of months.
Voyageurs students will also have the opportunity to take their work to the World Food Prize conference, held in Des Moines, Iowa. This conference is equivalent to the Nobel Prize for agriculture. This year’s focus is on rice. Look for Voyageur work to be on display at upcoming Charter School conferences as well.