Photographer Frank Ferebee from Queens has been part of Constructive Partnerships Unlimited’s Progressive Visions Photo Club for a decade.
“You make people laugh. You make people happy,” Ferebee said.
Constructive Partnerships Unlimited offers unique opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with the help of state funding.
Sunday was the debut of the exhibit “Through the Lens: New Images from the Progressive Visions Photo Club.” The exhibition is at the National Lighthouse Museum in St. George on Staten Island.
Jim Interlicchio started the photo club 27 years ago.
“I’m proud of all the photographers I work with. They inspire me every day. I make photography available to them and run with it,” Interlicchio said.
One of the photographers featured in the new exhibit, Kimberly Bland, uses an adaptive camera to help her shoot her stills.
“Her camera is mounted onto her wheelchair and it has what is called a magic arm. The arm is positioned. The arm clamps onto her wheelchair. And the arm is positioned so she can see through the camera,” Interlicchio said.
Organizers of the show applaud the teamwork between Interlicchio and the artists.
“[Interlicchio] sees a spark in them and he is able to bring out their photography expertise,” said Joseph Pancari, the president and CEO of Constructive Partnerships Unlimited.
Organizers say producing the images takes months.
The photographers took their pictures on Staten Island near the National Lighthouse Museum and then put the images in programs to adjust the lighting and get them just right for the exhibition.
For Ferebee, the emotions he feels from interacting with people while taking his shots keeps him coming back year after year.
“You make your day brighter. You take pictures of people coming past you that want their picture taken,” Ferebee said.
