Photography Program Builds Bonds Between Seniors and the Community

The Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) in Balboa Park is pleased to present Thursday Afternoons, an exhibition of photographs by senior citizens. The exhibit is produced in conjunction with Casa Familiar, a community development agency in San Ysidro. The exhibition developed through MOPA’s SEPIA (Senior Exploring Photography, Identity and Appreciation) initiative that brings lifespan learning opportunities to seniors across San Diego County. The exhibition will be on view at The Front gallery at Casa Familiar starting on October 6, 2011.

“We are so pleased to be collaborating with MOPA and hosting the SEPIA program in our facility at Casa Familiar,” said Luz Camacho, arts and culture officer, Casa Familiar. “The local community has truly embraced this program and it has been wonderful for us to watch the relationships that form out of this interactive and engaging program.”

Thursday Afternoonswill feature 50 photographs from 10 individuals participating in the SEPIA program at Casa Familiar, all of whom have come together through the program. As more research illuminates the importance of social bonding and friendship on the overall health and wellness of seniors, the SEPIA program is a vital source of community-building that complements the essential services offered by Casa Familiar.

“I am taking this class because I have always been a photography fan and wanted to really learn how to take a picture,” said Marcia Meza, a participant in the SEPIA program. “Now that I know the importance of angles when taking photographs, I am teaching my kids and grandkids how to take better pictures.”

All images in the exhibition relate to themes of identity and self-discovery, which reflect the meaningful experiences in the artists’ lives, from capturing images of a local community garden to visually conceptualizing the feelings of rebirth after major surgery.

Casa Familiar is located at 119 West Hall Avenue in San Ysidro. For additional information on SEPIA, please visit https://mopa.org/learn/senior.