When guests mosey their way through Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, they are often immersed in the world of the wild west.
However, one current exhibition has offered a more contemporary take on the once-wild west.
The “Kids in Focus: A New Lens on Life” exhibition features photos of locally grown plants, western sculptures, and kids frolicking in the street.
Though these photos evoke a new look at southwestern culture for guests, they were even more eye-opening for the at-risk children who took them. Most of the young artists come from abusive and neglectful homes.
Kids in Focus is a Phoenix nonprofit dedicated to empowering at-risk youth to reach their potential using photography to ignite their imagination and build their sense of confidence.
It has been giving children a new lens to view the world through just over a decade and though photography is a key component of what it does, founder Karen Shell, who grew up in South Scottsdale, says the organization does much more than teach kids about the art of photography.
“We all know the benefit of art therapy, but I think photography is like art therapy on steroids because not only are you learning to express yourself, but it’s so much more,” Shell said. “
For kids who have been through trauma, their world is very myopic, so with photography, they’re learning to express themselves, be creative, and get out of that headspace and into the world.”
This was exactly the case for Shell decades ago as the Saguaro High School alumna found solace in photography away from her abusive and challenging home life.
Decades later, she has found that her life has come full circle as she has noticed photography breaks the kids out of dark mindsets and allows them to see the color and beauty in the world.
“I’m very personally familiar with the challenges they face,” Shell said. Kids in focus grew out of 20 years of work I was already doing and what I saw when I began doing it was that kids were different. They went from dark and withdrawn to open, vibrant, calm, and happy.”
Though Shell had shown the work of the kids she aided over the past decade-plus in having their work shown in places like Civic Center Library, the Arizona Science Center, and the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, the fact that her kid’s work is now on display at an esteemed museum has her ecstatic.
“It is an unbelievable self-confidence boost because these kids don’t have music lessons, they don’t have sports teams and they never have opportunities to have a sense of accomplishment and feeling of pride,” Shell said.
“For them to know that something they created is moving around town and all these people see is that it’s an immeasurable boost to their self-confidence.”
The sentiment has been echoed by the museum.
“This is really what the museum is all about,” said Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West chief curator Dr. Tricia Loscher. “The Museum is all about community relationships, storytelling, enriching lives, and empowerment.”
Not only does the exhibition drive home the goal of the museum, but Loscher also says it adds a contemporary element to the space.
“Our museum looks at the past, present, and future and this is a glorious look at the now and the future.
She even said she hopes that this exhibition will pave the way for these inventive minds.
“I could see, maybe, someday some of these kids will come back and have solo or group shows here, they’ll be painting or some other art form creatively expressing themselves in ways that carry on their lives,” Loscher said.
Because of that, both Loscher and Shell hope that guests who gawk at these photos take away a sense of humility and acknowledgment.
“I’m hoping for when visitors see that remarkable programs like Kids in Focus are in our community and realize that these things are happening and that museums are an important place for this kind of dialogue to occur,” Loscher said. “You never know, this may drive more volunteers to Kids in Focus, more donations, and mentoring support.”
The photos will remain on display through Dec. 30.
If you go:
Kids in Focus: A New Lens on Life
When: Through Dec. 30
Where: Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, 3830 N. Marshall Way
Cost: Admission is $20 for non-members
Info: scottsdalemuseumwest.org
