Building Blocks

Posted on April 1, 2009 
Filed Under Art, Potrero Hill

A paradise of light and landscape, the Bay Area has a long history as photographer’s muse, from the legendary Ansel Adams to the amateur armed with a digital point-and-shoot. Part of what makes it so unique is the vast diversity of subject matter. Around every corner and over every hill is a new stunning vista, colorful architectural collage or heart-breaking bit of humanity. With a camera in hand, it’s possible to see the cities and corners of the Bay with fresh eyes every moment, even in one’s own familiar stomping grounds.

March 12th, San Francisco nonprofit media arts center Bay Area Video Coalition, celebrated this photo-friendly quality of the Bay Area with an opening reception for
5 Blocks—a photography exhibit and contest for which artist were asked to submit photos from within five blocks of their home, school or workplace.

group

The clever concept manifested as an engaging and fascinating community arts event. Photographs were numbered without artists’ names and grouped by zip code, so unless you were a postal worker, looking at the works turned into a kind of “guess the neighborhood” game. Attendee participation was further encouraged with the promise of voting ballots, stubby pencils, and a bright green ballot box—the accoutrements of the People’s Choice award. Nothing like a popular vote to get people interested right? Throw in some instant gratification with an awards ceremony just moments after the last vote was cast, and the folks at BAVC (pronounced “bay-vac”) were guaranteed a full house until the event’s end at 8pm.

5blocksballot

And the winners, in four categories, with a Grand Prize and Runner-up judged by San Francisco-based photographer and Jell-O artist Liz Hickok:

Grand Prize: photo #44 Untitled by Kurt Manley
Runner-up: photo #41 Garage Fall by Adrian Cotter
Staff Favorite: photo #38 555 California by Dania Maxwell
People’s Choice: photo #41 Garage Fall by Adrian Cotter

Kurt Manley & his winning photo

Kurt Manley & his winning photo

The real winners, however, are the underrepresented folks that BAVC serves by increasing diverse communities’ cultural and economic participation in media creation and innovation, and empowering creative expression.  They offer a broad range of classes and industry training—including training for unemployed media makers—as well as media preservation services and much more.

Go visit them in Potrero Hill, and while you’re there, check out 5 Blocks for yourself, it’s up through April.

—Sara

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