Students to Present “This Our Jonesboro” Photo Exhibit
JONESBORO — Photographs taken by three Arkansas State University photojournalism students will be on display Friday, May 6, in a special exhibit in the Round Room of the Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library, 315 West Oak Avenue. The show begins at 6 p.m. and runs through 8 p.m. Admission is free and is open to the public.
Emily Holder of Batesville, Kayla Macomber of Vilonia and Melissa Martin of Trumann, advanced photojournalism students of Dr. Gabriel Tait, took the pictures incorporating three issues the students believe are important to know about Jonesboro. The issues include poverty, Hispanic community services and animal overpopulation.
“These students are from my advanced photojournalism class,” said Tait, assistant professor of multimedia journalism (photojournalism/visual communication). “I want them to know their images are important in helping the city understand these issues. They did a good job.”
Tait went on to say the students had set four visual benchmarks over the semester. “I challenged them (the students) to go deeper and look at an issue in a way others may not. These are the issues they selected. I want them to have the opportunity to show their work and start a conversation.”
Holder photographically explores the Hispanic community in Jonesboro by documenting tutoring programs at the Hispanic Center, a coming of age ritual of a quinceañera, and the spiritual fervor of members from this growing community. Macomber’s creative project shines a light on poverty and issues related to homelessness in Jonesboro and Northeast Arkansas. She aims to bring hope to a community that is often forgotten or misunderstood. Martin presents the overabundance of cats and dogs in town and the community’s efforts to police and nurture the animal populations.
For additional information, contact Tait at (870) 972-3212 or through email at gtait@AState.edu.
