On May 31st, 826LA and The J. Paul Getty Museum unveiled the culmination of their joint photography venture: Community PhotoWorks. This year's PhotoWorks project, Attention To Tension, features the work of 11th grade students from Los Angeles High School.

In April, Felicia Perez's U.S. History class visited The Getty and explored the work of photographer Jo Ann Callis ( who spoke to the students, and whose exhibition, Woman Twirling, runs at the Getty Center until August). Jo Ann's work served as a launching point for an in-depth discussion about the art of photography, and how the theme of tension, artistic and historical, could be explored through the medium. Students then worked with Getty and 826LA volunteers to explore where places of tension might be found in their own lives, and how they could use these places to make a personal comment about what they were learning in their History class.

Students then went into their homes, their school and their communities, seeking out places of tension, and photographing them using the techniques they'd learned. Volunteers helped the students cull their work and decide on which piece to include in the exhibition. The photographers were expected not simply to choose which photo they thought was best, but to explain why, and to develop artist statements to define their intentions with the piece.

Attention to Tension opened at The Golden State Cafe on a Sunday afternoon, and it was a genuine community event. The day was a perfect example of what can happen when there is true collaboration. Getty volunteers mingled with 826 staff and volunteers, students and their families, diners, and people simply walking by on the street. The proud artists donned name tags and spoke to guests about their pieces, praising each others work and posing for photos snapped by beaming parents. People congregated in the cafe and outside on the street, enjoying free ice cream from Scoops and great conversation. Interestingly, The Golden State Cafe had been featured on NPR's Good Eats the day before, so beer-float aficionados were aplenty, and didn't mind eager spectators leaning over their tables to check out the mounted works.

Jo Ann Callis had some inspiring words for the students, praising their work, and encouraging them to continue tilling their lives for artistic fodder. One of the students asked, "What if someone asks to buy our photo?" and to this, Callis instilled some valuable words for any artist: "Don't undersell."

Attention to Tension runs until June 13th at The Golden State Cafe, 426 N. Fairfax. While you're there, get a beer float. I promise you, they are heavenly.