For the past three years, HCC-Ybor Gallery Director Carolyn Kossar has put aside grant money for the Tampa Neighborhoods Documentary Project, a community endeavor that offers Tampa youths training in the documentary arts and then assigns them the task of exploring their neighborhoods while applying the newly discovered techniques. This summer, the Sulphur Springs youth art program, Community Stepping Stones, was selected for participation. The program was first initiated by Sulpher Springs residents Ed Ross and Michael Parker, who were concerned about the future of neighborhood youths. "Basically, the street is their place for learning. So we decided to try to get them off the streets and teach them things such as job and life skills through art and business," says Parker. He and Ross partnered with USF's School of Art and Art History and Community Stepping Stones — dedicated to providing education, mentorship and enrichment to Sulphur Springs youths — was realized. See paintings, ceramics and photography by these youths through Friday, June 30. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and by appointment, HCC-Ybor Art Gallery, Palm Avenue and 14th Street, Ybor City, 813-253-7674.
This article appears in Jun 28 – Jul 4, 2006.