PUBLIC ART: FOTO BARYO

Founded by Fernando Afable, Foto Baryo brings the art and pleasure of photography to children in the Philippines. Although raised in the Philippines, it was Afable’s tenure as an employee at the International Center for Photography in New York that provided the backdrop for his growth in knowledge and love of the medium.  During this time, over 10+ years, as he moved from Security Guard to Darkroom Manager, Afable collected discarded books, enlargers, cameras and film, and built a school on his family’s land in Manila. The result of his efforts is Foto Baryo, a venue where cross-cultural and cross-class dialogue thrives and exposes young people to the diversity of planet earth.  The school is heavily involved in outreach to Philippine youth living in Manila, squatter communities, and autistic children.  Images and exhibitions in galleries and public community spaces are produced by the children year-round. Foto Baryo’s most recent work will be exhibited at the Philippine Consulate in New York on June 5th, 2008.

(Fernando Afable, photo courtesy of PhilippineBusiness.com)

What is equally amazing is the fact that all the work has been produced by discarded equipment and expired film!  Read more on Foto Baryo here or for more information contact Cres Yulo or Amor Rodriguez here!  (Special thanks to Lauri Lyons for this post.)