My next Seven Steps To Better Photography class will be on Sunday, April 7th. Instead of holding the class at my studio like I usually do, the class will be at Front Street Art Center in downtown Dayton. The class is being held at a different location because I am part of a special exhibition about an organization called The Friends of The Living Arts Center. Before there were arts magnet schools, the Living Arts Center was an arts magnet school. The Dayton Board of Education received a federal grant to start an arts program for 5th through 12th-grade students. There were five departments: Creative writing, dance, drama, music, and the visual arts. It was open from 1967 – 1977. I took my first photography class there in 1975. The Living Arts Center was one of the country's first-of-this-kind programs. The Living Arts Center aimed to help students with creativity and self-expression. The Living Arts Center wasn't trying to train students for a career in the arts but to encourage them to live a creative life. My time at The Living Arts Center started me on a path to becoming a professional photographer and helped me to serve 1000s of people with my creative skills.
During April, The Friends of The Living Arts Center will hold an exhibition of photography, paintings, mixed media, and textiles. Exhibitors of this art show include alums, teachers, and friends of Living Arts. I will show some fine art photography from my Wright Brothers: Then and Now and the Indianapolis 500 series at this exhibit. There will be an opening reception on Friday from 5-9 pm and another on Sunday, April 21st from 11 am – 3 pm. The Front Street Arts complex is at 1001 E. Second Street near downtown Dayton. Many artists have studios on Front Street, and there are multiple gallery spaces for artists to hold exhibits. It is part of the arts district in Dayton. You can read more about the Front Street arts building and the exhibit at FrontStreet.com/events. You can see more information about my photography class at ClearyCreativePhoto.com/PhotoClass.