News Youth Services News HIGHLOW Photo Exhibit
PRESS RELEASE: June 1, 2010
Youth Services Presents HIGHLOW Photo Exhibit on Youth Homelessness
Couch surfing, living in places unfit for human habitation, or in unstable or unhealthy situations—not because of something they did themselves but because of circumstances beyond their control—is the fate of more than fifty youth between the ages of sixteen to twenty-one in Windham County each year.
The HIGHLOW Project features 24 large scale color images taken by photographer Ned Castle depicting the “highs” and “lows” of homeless youth in Vermont, including Windham County.
A collaboration between local Youth Services and the state-wide Vermont Coalition of Runaway & Homeless Youth Programs (VCRHYP), the HIGHLOW Project can be seen in the Latchis Main Theatre throughout the month of June, with the opening reception for the exhibit taking place between 5-6:30 p.m. during Gallery Walk on Friday, June 4, on the stage. The artist, youth served by the agency, VCRHYP and Youth Services staff will be available during this time for questions and comments.
Ned Castle partnered with twelve Vermont youth to recreate and photograph the high and low moments of their lives. The resulting exhibition is the product of hundreds of hours of collaboration between photographer and youth—yielded two photographs, along with audio narrations by the participants, that give depth and meaning to the visual content offered through these images.
The concept and title for the show mirrors the approach used by social services agencies at the beginning of a group meeting, according to Castle. “It is common practice for these young people and youth workers to share their ““high” and “low” moments of the day or the week at the beginning of a group session,” he explained. “Everyone is given the opportunity to speak, sharing the experiences that they’ve been through with the other members of their group. I built on this concept by asking these young Vermonters to share the high and low moments of their lives — powerful, personal stories.”
In what is all too rare in photography, these subjects assume ultimate conceptual and creative control over the creation and selection of their materials from start to finish — and beyond.
Few of us are aware that there are thousands of homeless and runaway youth right here in Vermont, according to Allyson Villars, Executive Director of Youth Services, who explains that the state as a whole has one of the highest rates of homelessness in New England. “Each year, nearly one thousand young people are lucky enough to access the help that can make the difference between living on the street, and working toward independent, productive, healthy lives.”
These youth take charge of their lives—and their future—by working with a local member agency of the Vermont Coalition of Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs, such as Youth Services in Windham County. Each year Youth Services works with more than fifty youth between the ages of sixteen to twenty-one who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.
“These are our future citizens. They will be our neighbors, employers and employees and the parents of our childrens’ play and schoolmates in Windham County. They need assistance now so that they can ultimately become productive, engaged and full-fledged partners in helping our community thrive,” explained Villars. “With the guidance and support of one of our case managers, these youth develop a roadmap for taking charge of their future and gain a partner for the journey,” she said.
Hours for viewing the show have been expanded to include Monday through Friday 2-4 p.m.; Saturday to Sunday 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. until June 25. (It will be closed June 18.) Viewers must enter at the Latchis Hotel and check in at the front desk.
and for more information, contact Youth Services at (802) 257-0361 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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