centro.nuevacreacion's photostream

The Goodlands Photography is the work of young people in North Philadelphia between the ages of 5 and 13. The Goodlands was created in the summer of 2000 by Centro Nueva Creacion, a non-profit community center in North Philadelphia. The Goodlands was created to build artistic talent in young people and to counter negative misconceptions of North Philadelphia as the “Badlands”.

The vision of The Goodlands is to improve the way that residents and the greater Philadelphia community perceive North Philadelphia through the transformational power of art. The mission of the Goodlands is to teach children the fundamentals of photography and to encourage them to see and create beauty in their neighborhoods.

North Philadelphia has been stigmatized by the media for years as the “Badlands”; a region ridden by drugs, crime, and poverty. This image of the community as an unsafe and undesirable place to live takes a toll on the spirits of those that live here, particularly the young people. The Goodlands® Community Arts Program gives children a constructive means to focus upon the many assets of their neighborhood. The photographs produced by young people in the program provide endless images of hope and vitality. At times, their photos capture the harsh realities of their lives, but most importantly they capture the energy, life, and vibrancy of the Latino culture of their neighborhood.

Over the years hundreds of children in The Goodlands® Community Arts Program have taken photographs that have been shared with thousands throughout Philadelphia in annual and traveling exhibitions. Countless exhibit attendees have been able to connect with the youth and our neighborhood through these photos. Even though some people may still stay away from our streets, through the work of these young aspiring artists the boundaries of fear and ignorance are slowly being eroded. Through their powerful images, the children of the Goodlands® are making a contribution to the visual documentation of the Goodlands® community!

For upcoming events and exhibits, please visit our myspace page at www.myspace.com/goodlands.