On Thursday June 11th, SuperFront gallery opened hosted an opening reception for Past Forward a new exhibit showcasing work produced by students from Boys & Girls High School enrolled in a special seminar on historical preservation.  This seminar was a joint venture between Boys and Girls and Weeksville Society Heritage Center.  Through this collaboration the high school students were introduced to some facets of historical preservation by mining the landscape near their school, and in some instances their homes.  A recurring theme amongst the students was how little attention they paid to the neighborhood gems that they walked past on daily basis prior to taking this course.  As student Steven Abreu said, “before [i took the class] Fulton Park was just the park across the street from school” but “by going out to different areas and learning about Bed-Stuy and Weeksville, I not only learned more abou Fulton Park but also Brooklyn.”  Abreu, who lives in East New York thoroughly enjoyed the hands on approach to learning more about a neighborhood that beforehand he only commuted to for school. 

The students were not the only ones whose horizons were expanded as a result of this experience.  According to Cathleen Antoine, a Boys and Girls High teacher who was one of the seminar’s co-leaders, she too learned a lot, “I didn’t fully understand preservation until i started working with staff at Weeksville.” 

Responses like those from Abreu and Antoine confirmed the expectations of Weeksville Executive Director, Pamela Green who said this program was designed in a way “to teach students about preservation in an engaging way.” 

The proud faces of parents and teachers who came out in support of the students, it was clear that this program was an overwhelming success. 

Past Forward runs for two more weeks at SUPERFRONT: 1432 Atlantic Ave (@ Brooklyn Ave)

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