5: Through the Camera Lens: Students’ Exploration of Sense of Place in Schools

Located within the genre of arts-informed, qualitative inquiry (Cole & Knowles, 2000, 2001; Finley & Knowles, 1995; Neilsen, Cole & Knowles, 2001), representations of this research consisted of photographic and mixed media assemblages created by secondary school art students from the Toronto District School Board who were inspired by the work of place photographer, Marlene Creates, from Newfoundland, Canada. Influenced by Creates’ explorations of place, students engaged as prime gatherers and interpreters of experience and were empowered as they captured, represented, and exhibited youth perspectives. In this inquiry students created compelling and evocative expressions of experience and revealed thought-provoking portrayals of sense of place in schools through image-based and textual works (1999-2001).