By Kay Harris
John Meyerhofer introduced the Photo Literacy Project to the Asbury Park school system in 2005. This project was a 20 week program in partnership with the Bradley Elementary School wherein basic photography concepts are taught to 2nd and 4th grade elementary school students. The project has been so successful that it is now going into its 3rd year.
John, what inspired you to introduce this program to our community?In March of 2005 I bought a small apartment in town for investment purposes. I knew I wanted to be part of the revitalization and excitement of AP. I wanted to make a difference and no better way I felt than the community who lives here and the future generations of AP. I knew most public schools could always use a little help and inspiration and I had been doing my Photo Literacy Project (PLP) up in Piscataway for 4 years. It was a chance for me to give back to a community I was falling in love with.
This must have been a very gratifying experience for you. IT WAS! and STILL is! It is impossible to express how it feels to profoundly touch someone's life. To bring enrichment to it through Art. WOW! I get SO much out of doing this. It is THE BEST ART I have ever done or could do.
How was this received by the students? GREAT! The kid's LOVE this project. It brings them out of the boredom of their daily routine. Especially now with "LET NO CHILD BE LEFT BEHIND" ...They are taught only to pass test from what I know.. This leaves no room TO CREATE a passion to REALLY learn … something I personally believe the Public School System Lacks. They continuously cut Art programs out. It just doesn't work for all the kid's. My PLP brings a chance for each student to express him/her self through Art/photography that they would not have had. The Public School System needs MORE Art Programs, not less. Art gives EACH child a better chance to succeed in life.
What impact do you feel that this has had on the lives of the students?Briefly to go over the project, after 20 or more weeks of taking photos, they are asked to compile some of the images and write a book. This book is placed in the school library making them accomplished Authors. I find a REAL Gallery to have a REAL Photography Exhibit where each student has their one image and the book they wrote on display, making them accomplished Artists. This experience alone creates confidence and self esteem. Confidence and self esteem makes all of us better people with advantages that would be hard to measure. It makes their worlds bigger with opportunities that would perhaps have not come their way. One thing I have learned is that me just showing up creates a better learning experience for the students. Someone showing up and caring about them goes far. I did not realize this to just this year. I am SO THANKFUL I help make a difference to them.
What if any has been the reactions of the Teachers, and Parents to this program?AGAIN GREAT! The teachers in this project REALLY make the difference. It is ALL extra work for them, but they step up and go that extra mile for the kid's. It brings inspiration for them as well. Teaching is demanding and can get boring for the kid's and teachers alike. I know you have seen some of the images my class takes. They are INCREDIBLE! Adults who see them cannot believe a kid who is a 4th grader took them. Parents are very proud to see this. At the Exhibit it is great to meet them and see how happy they are and impressed they are in their children. That is MAGIC for me! If I may take an opportunity here to boost Volunteerism, I asked the Principle (Acting School Administrator – Sharon Harris) for a letter of recommendation for fundraising purpose. In it she said, 'Mr. Meyerhofer was "THE FIRST person from the community to come to the school to volunteer
and to please support my efforts for fund raising." Something I didn't expect was needed and I am proud of. The principle, teachers AND students need to know the community cares!
As with all school systems across the country, parents are concerned that their children get a good education and that our students are especially able to master the three “R’s” (reading, righting and arithmetic). How important do you feel it is to have the “arts” included in the school curriculum? INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT! Especially now with the new 'LET NO CHILD BE LEFT BEHIND..." In my opinion, it is boring to the kid's AND teacher's alike. It does not create a PASSION to learn. The system FAILS at creating a GOOD HEALTHY learning environment and again a passion to continually want to learn that should carry to adulthood. There are SO many studies that prove that children learn form 'ART/ACTIVITY'. Studies from Harvard, yet Art programs continuously get cut. That concerns me.
Tell us a little about yourself. Were you involved in any form of “art” while you were in school?I was very good at Art in school and looked forward to it each week. I LOVED it all, but remember drawing and paper Mache. I still love working 3 Dimensional. How ever I was not good at all in reading/writing. Poor even. That is exactly why when I had the chance to Co Create the PLP out of research from Harvard, (Dr. Gardner's 'THEORIES OF INTELLIGENCE") I seized the opportunity. The study found that basically Arts/Activity motivated children's learning capacity, especially reading/writing. I would have greatly benefited from a project like this.
How long have you been involved in photography?Since 1990. I took a basic Photography course at Intentional Center for Photography, NYC in hope of taking my own portfolio of my sculptors, but fell in love with it. I went on to do my best work as an Artist have several shows in NYC and having several images Published in 'THE SUN".
What are your future plans involving Asbury Park?I would love to see my Project grow and increase volunteerism within it.. I hope to make this project available to as many students as possible.
What is your famous Asbury Park hang-out? Well not so famous yet, but getting there is Our house on 3rd,on a Sunday afternoon with our friends, a bottle of wine, good food and in the Winter sitting around the Fire Place. Here is where ideas are born and support for each others endeavors here in AP or not. We enjoy nothing more than spending time with friends new and old.
Do you have a favorite Asbury Park memory that you would like to share?Well, I am still in the process of making GREAT memories, but I would have to say when I first came into town 4 years ago, I wanted to be part of the Community. I had my (PLP) portfolio, but NO ONE really knew me. I met John Simenek from the former ApEx Gallery, and quickly he headed me toward the then new ARTSCAP. Jean Johnson (AP High school Arts Teacher and ARTSCAP board member) arranged an appointment with Sharon Harris, (Bradley School acting administrator at that time), and I was on my way. It’s important to me to acknowledge the folks that helped me to get this off of the ground. I am inspired by the volunteerism and commitment of people I meet here in Asbury Park. This first close community minded experience still stands out and I still have them. AP is a GREAT place to be.
What is something you’d like people to know about you that they probably do not know?I'd like to be a Character Actor. I am FASCINATED by actors/actresses who morph into someone else. I am WAY to shy though.
What is one thing in your past you’d change f you could?I would have gone to Art School right after high school. Although Life has landed me here and could not picture my life without my PLP, I fantasize about making wooden bowls in my little studio up in the country and of course selling them. :)
How would you like to be remembered?As someone who made a difference. We talk about our "CARBON FOOTPRINT", but I believe we should look also at leaving a socially minded 'Footprint" as well.
Do you have an email address you’d like to share in case anyone reading this would like to contact you? SURE! IMAX773@AOL.COM ArtsCAP can be contacted through its website www.artscap.org