How I See It — My Place

An Exhibit of Photographs and Writing by California Teens

"Learning to Look:" About the Exhibit

In 2008 more than 200 young people across California participated in a collective effort to capture the character of place, photographing and writing about the everyday landscapes we inhabit but seldom really see. For many, the experience was eye-opening, not only for the discoveries participants made about their communities, but also for the insights they gained about themselves and each other.

Twenty one California libraries conducted the project, developed by the California Council for the Humanities, with the support of the Council and partner individuals and organizations.

The results of this work can be seen by exploring the exhibit from the home page. Simply click on the icon for each library and an exhibit will open up featuring photos and text as well as a story about each project.

Read the scholar essays by our scholars, Patricia Hunt and Claude Willey, for additional insights into the project and the meaning of place.

If you’d like to do this project on your own, visit the Tool Kit page for information.

We hope you will enjoy this exhibit and be inspired to learn to look anew at your own surroundings.