Youth-Led Environmental Storytelling Takes Center Stage in South Bay
May 22, 2025
This May, The Front Arte y Cultura comes alive with stories of environmental justice, healing, and belonging as Outside The Lens (OTL) presents the culminating exhibition of “Land + Lenses” – a groundbreaking community arts initiative that has bridged generations and ecosystems across San Diego’s border neighborhoods.
Since March, eight young apprentices (ages 14-24) from San Diego’s international border communities have been leading fellow youth and families through immersive media arts experiences at Otay Valley Regional Park (OVRP) and YMCA Camp Surf. Their journey of exploration and creation now culminates in this powerful exhibition that invites visitors to see local landscapes through fresh perspectives.
“Land + Lenses represents a radical reimagining of how communities can connect with public spaces,” explains Sarah Beckman, Executive Director of Outside the Lens. “These young leaders haven’t just created art about nature – they’ve fostered genuine relationships between people and the land while developing their own creative voices and environmental advocacy skills.”
A Multisensory Exhibition Experience
Visitors to the May exhibition will encounter a rich tapestry of creative expression – from documentary photography and mixed media installations to interactive stations that engage all senses. The exhibition showcases works created during biweekly workshops where participants explored herbalism, ritual practices, and traditional ecological knowledge.
Interactive elements invite visitors to taste locally foraged teas, craft intention-based spell jars, make smudge bundles, and contribute to a community recipe book – continuing the hands-on approach that defined the program’s workshops. Each creation reflects themes of environmental justice, identity, belonging, resilience, and our interconnection with the natural world.
Bridging Communities Through Place-Based Creativity
The exhibition represents the culmination of a unique collaboration between Outside The Lens, Casa Familiar, and the Institute for Public Strategies, funded by the inaugural Arts in California Parks Local Parks Grant Program. This initiative is part of a $2.8 million statewide investment activating public lands through creative placemaking.
“Setting the program in Otay Valley Regional Park connects more people with nature and revitalizes the space to promote health and well-being,” notes Brittany Hunsinger of the Institute for Public Strategies. Meanwhile, Francisco Morales from Casa Familiar emphasizes that “activating the park through art and collaboration increases accessibility and opens a valuable dialogue between generations.”
A Celebration of Youth Environmental Leadership
Perhaps most significantly, the exhibition celebrates the power of youth leadership in environmental stewardship. The eight paid youth apprentices who guided the program have not merely created art – they’ve sparked conversations about environmental equity, fostered healing through creative expression, and modeled new forms of relationship with the land.
As visitors move through the exhibition, they’ll witness how these young changemakers have used photography, mixed media, augmented reality, and sculpture to transform their communities’ understanding of local ecosystems while addressing ongoing social and environmental justice challenges.
Join us for this free celebration of creativity, environmental connection, and community voice – an afternoon of art, food, and meaningful connection that promises to change how you see San Diego’s natural landscapes.
Land and Lenses is created in partnership with The Institute for Public Strategies and Casa Familiar, and is funded by the Arts in California Parks Local Parks Grant Program, administered by Parks California. Please visit ArtsinCaliforniaParks.org for more info.
