9/4 Opening of “Back to School” at Gravy Studio & Gallery (Philly)

Gravy Studio Flyer

Friday September 4
6-10pm

Gravy Studio
gravy.photo@gmail.com
155 Cecil B Moore Ave, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122

Facebook Event Link

On Friday September 4, Back To School opens at Gravy Studio & Gallery and run through September 27. The opening reception takes place September 4 from 6pm-10pm. Complimentary light refreshments will be served.

Back To School is a collection of documentary photography capturing the students, parents, teachers and spaces of Philadelphia’s underfunded School district.

Public education in Philadelphia is in crisis. Operating under a severe budget shortfall, the district closed 23 public schools, and thousands of employees have been laid off. This tumult, combined with a legacy of questionable education reforms have severely affected the schooling that young people receive.

While producing a documentary film about Philadelphia’s underfunded Schools, Lendl Tellington and Sarah Milinski began capturing photos of the individuals they encountered. Unbeknownst to the filmmakers, photographers Sahar Coston-Hardy and Marco Hill were chronicling the dozens of closed schools throughout the district.

Together, these four mediamakers are using their photos to have a conversation about the toll a budget-stricken school district has on Philadelphia’s communities, as well as highlights the people who are working to change what has been called one of the nation’s most inequitable school systems.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their smartphone and a pair of headphones to listen to the audio stories behind the photographs. Proceeds from this exhibition will go toward further documentation of stories within the Philadelphia Public School District as well as a free workshop series that provides youth a space to tell their stories while learning media skills.