How I See It — My Place
Mendota
From Left to Right Jessi Mendez, Nidia Chicas, Jose Maravilla, Jonathan Serrano, Brenda Vongkhamsene, Mirna Cabrera, Kris Jorgensen
Jessi Mendez preparing the exhibit for the opening.
Jose Maravilla taking a break during one of our explorations.
Mirna Cabrera looks at photos on the computer.
Brenda Vongkhamsene presenting her thoughts about the project at the opening reception.
Behind the Scenes
Mendota is a small town of about 9,000 people in western Fresno County. It is an agricultural town surrounded by fields of cotton, cantaloupe, tomatoes, corn, and other crops. Most people in Mendota speak Spanish. Many people speak English. It is a fairly isolated town with Fresno about an hour’s drive away. There are limited opportunities and resources for cultural events.
The young people involved in this project were enthusiastic about this opportunity and were excited to spend some time looking at Mendota in a new way. Their photographs capture many different aspects of the town. This project helped spark an interest in history, art, and a growing awareness of the community and what everyone can do to make it their own and improve it. They developed a critical eye and are more able to connect their everyday surroundings to how the world works.
Jonathan Serrano getting a closer look at the warning on the door.
One of the comments that many of the participants made was that if they weren’t a part of this program, they would just be watching TV or playing video games. Adults tend to assume that that’s all young people want to do, but this program shows that young people want opportunities to do something more than what’s expected.
People who saw the exhibit were immediately interested in the photos and the writings that accompanied them. They seemed to appreciate the perspective that they were given from the insights of the photographers. The community had a chance to see the viewpoint of the young people of Mendota. They also could reflect on the changes that have come about in the town over the years.
Nidia Chicas making everyone laugh at the opening reception.
There was a presentation on the history of Mendota with old photographs of the town as part of the exhibit. They enjoyed guessing where the photos were taken and took pride in knowing the places and things that were photographed. The photographs showed some of the good and the bad of the city. They were honest in their depiction of the visual scenes which surround them. They found humor, sadness, hope, the mundane, and beauty in the photos that they took.
— Kris Jorgensen, Project Director
