TSA Welcomes World Renowned Photographer
Sandro Oramas, guest teacher, in Laura DeCapua’s Portrait Photography class.
Sandro Oramas is a fine art photographer archaeolgist and filmmaker from Venezuela who has exhibited and published internationally. His work is represented internationally in public and private collections such as the BN in Paris, the Houston Center for Photography, the Leheigh University Gallery, the Delaware University Gallery as well as the Museum of Fine Arts and the Contemporary Museum of Art in Caracas, Venezuela.
How did he end up in Sharon, VT? Sandro is old friends with Jay Meade, current TSA art teacher. Sandro wanted to bring his daughter to the United States to improve her English. Jay invited them to Vermont and suggested that she spend a few weeks attending TSA for a total immersion experience. Jay is a crew leader with Cover Home Repair in White River Junction and helped Sandro apply to and receive a grant from the Jack and Dorothy Byrne Foundation to document a project from beginning to end for Cover’s use in outreach and archives.
With funding for the trip and an invitation in hand, Sandro and his daughter Alejandra arrived in Sharon. Alejandra had an amazing experience. She not only improved her English, but also learned the ways of an American high school. Of course, we know how special TSA is, and she immediately recognized the enormous difference from her high school experience. Unlike in Venezuela, she found TSA students to be “authentic” and non-conformist; she felt that the diversity was so enriching.
Sandro Oramas, internationally recognized photographer, assisting a TSA Photography student.
Sandro, in the meantime, finished his work with Cover and photographed life at TSA. Photography teacher Laura DeCapua then invited him to teach three of her portraiture classes. Sandro had experience with this having been the Director of the National Center of Photography in Venezuela. Over the course of the three days, Sandro discussed theory, worked with students on composition and technique, and advised them on their editing.
The Sharon Academy thrives on this kind of serendipitous connection and engagement. To connect with someone of international stature and to be able to integrate their expertise into the curriculum is just one example of the kind of flexibility that makes teaching and learning at TSA so rewarding and exciting.