Daytona State Presents 2nd Annual Student Exhibition at the Gary R. Libby Gallery

"Upside Down" – curated by Kassandra Ramirez and Rachel Waesche

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 26, 2019) - Two students in the photography program at Daytona State College collaborated to curate the second of an annual series of photo exhibitions at the College's News-Journal Center, located at 221 N. Beach St. in downtown Daytona Beach.

Students Kassandra Ramirez and Rachel Waesche decided on an exhibition theme and then placed a public call for art from DSC students. The two curators wanted to challenge the local pool of photographers and asked for a black and white image that incorporated some sort of reflection. The response from the DSC community was overwhelming.

This project began thanks to the philanthropic efforts of Gary R. Libby. The exhibition currently is on display through spring 2020 in the Gary R. Libby Gallery. Admission is free and open to the public.

Once the final selections had been made, it was just a short trip to the Southeast Museum of Photography to begin the task of framing the works and creating labels and signage. Under the tutelage of museum Director James Pearson, Ramirez and Waesche printed, framed and packed these photographs to transport to the News-Journal Center.

"The installation is a lot like the second draft of this process," said Pearson. "As much as you can conceptualize the exhibit beforehand, it's not until the pictures are in the space that you can tell which ones really fit with your theme and how they work together. Some of the photos make it all the way through the framing process, but still don't make the final cut."

The News-Journal Center is one of Daytona State's seven instructional sites. The facility is used by the College as a rehearsal and performance space for students to conduct musical and theatrical productions, and is where many official college events and ceremonies take place. The building also serves as a civic center, with many programs open to the public.

Libby is director emeritus of the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach, as well as a well-known author and lecturer. He has taken an interest in the education of DSC students by underwriting the 2018 renovation of this section of the center's lobby and funding an annual program for DSC students that culminates in the first of regular art exhibitions in this new gallery space. With his generosity, Libby enables students to gain the experience of curating and installing a photography exhibit, guided by the professionals at the Southeast Museum of Photography and the Southeast Center for Photographic Studies at Daytona State. Libby created and supports a similar program at the University of Florida for graduate students, but this engagement is the first of its kind at a state college level.

When asked about the opportunity from a student's perspective, Waesche was quick to reply, "It's exhilarating! I absolutely love seeing the project come to completion. It was a long process and required a lot of steps, and it has given me a much better appreciation for how galleries and museums operate."

Ramirez stated, "Reflection photography is so powerful and has many elements you can use that are limitless. Upside Down is a way to show your creativity with black and white to make it seem like a dark world. Photography is an escape for me, it allows me to be free and it is my therapy. I hope it is conveyed in this exhibition."

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