SHARING THE EXHIBIT EXPERIENCE

As soon as possible after the exhibition tour, bring students together to share thoughts, feelings, questions and project ideas. Here are some ways students can share their responses to the exhibit:

Small Group Discussion: Organize students into small groups to share their photo logs. Ask the group to appoint a recorder for the 20-minute session and capture the major impressions and lingering questions.

Large Group Discussion: Give each group time to share their impressions and questions. Write the words “facts,” “feelings,” and “questions” on the board. As groups report, make lists under each heading to describe what they experienced from the exhibit. Remind students that Salgado does not see himself as “an artist.” Speaking to the New Yorker magazine, he said, “I’m not an artist…. I work in history, I’m a storyteller.” After seeing the exhibit, what can you make of this statement? Summarize both the historical and emotional impact of Sebastião Salgado’s long-term photo project. Encourage students to discuss the photos and what made the exhibition experience so powerful.

Newspaper Project: Tell students they are going to use their exhibit experience to take different journalistic roles to comment on the exhibition, including the following:

• Personal profile
• Opinion Piece
• Letter to the Editor
• Science column (environmental impact on displacement)
• Local to global connection
• Human Rights Organization profile
• Art and Human Rights, photography’s impact
• Refugees or immigrants in my neighborhood

Review the project-planning handout. Explain that the following steps will be taken during the planning and development process:

• Complete an article plan
• Develop through the rough draft of their article or report
• Trade articles or reports with another student for peer editing
• Make final edits and submit article or report

After all articles or reports are submitted, duplicate and make copies of each for students to review. Ask for volunteers to work on a layout and finalize the Exhibition Newspaper for other students in the school to read.