Trekkers Presents Photo Treks Exhibition at Jonathan Frost Gallery

“Rust n’ Dust” by 8th grader Brianna Knowlton. This photo is one of 28 to be featured in the exhibition at the Jonathan Frost Gallery.

Rockland, Maine - Trekkers’ Photo Treks 2012 exhibition will open on Friday, February 1st at the Jonathon Frost Gallery in Rockland. The opening will be held from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, and the exhibition will run for the month of February. All are welcome to attend.

Photo Treks 2012, “Visions of People, Paper and Pulp,” is the culminating photographic work of nine talented middle school artists and five adult mentors. Students and mentors captured these images during their five-day Photo Treks expedition while visiting Maine’s paper mills, both abandoned and operating. Combining environmental education, digital photography and youth mentoring, the Photo Treks program takes students and mentors on a photographic exploration of their state. The program encourages an appreciation of the arts and the natural world through experiential learning.

During this year’s Photo Treks expedition in October, students spent four nights at Unity College, visited Maine’s Paper & Heritage Museum in Livermore Falls, and toured a former paper mill in Jay. Students also viewed a presentation by the Androscoggin River Alliance to learn about the environmental impact of the pulp and paper mill industry. Students then toured an operating mill, Great Northern Paper, in East Millinocket to learn from the company’s perspective about the pros and cons of its impact on small communities. By showing both sides of the issue, the Trekkers students were able to make up their own minds about what they think and feel regarding the many environmental and economic issues that were discussed during the expedition. This year’s program was funded in part by a grant from the K2 Family Foundation.

Students’ work will be for sale with half of the proceeds going to the artist and half going into the Photo Treks program. In addition to donating space for the opening, the Jonathan Frost Gallery is also generously donating its usual commission to the Photo Treks program. The opening will feature Jo Anne Parker on piano throughout the evening.

Trekkers is a nonprofit mentoring organization that connects young people with caring adults through expeditionary learning, adventure-based education and community service. The organization currently serves more than 180 students from the communities of RSU #13.

If you would like more information regarding Trekkers, please call 594-5095 or visit www.trekkers.org.