While Frank Hamrick, an associate professor of photography, lectures on making art, he hopes to demonstrate what he teaches at Louisiana Tech University to help artists understand they can pursue a college degree and career. “I am there more to teach them, rather than present an infomercial,” he said. “I want them to know they can be creative and can be producers and not just consumers.” Hamrick lectured and taught Arden Kennedy’s art classes at Caddo Parish Magnet High School in Shreveport how to create book structures, content and how to combine both to create a successful piece of work. “We talked about how the materials and structure can support the subject matter of the photographs or text inside the book,” Hamrick said. “For instance, I showed a book that was made from a wallet and the subject matter dealt with information that we hold close and do not share with just anyone.” Kennedy said the program was excellent for the students because they were able to be creative, while also learning how to work effectively. “I think (the students) were pleased with what they created,” she said. “We are so lucky he came. After he left, my students started to want to make more art.” Kennedy said the lecture gave her students a lot of insight on how to make something and tell a story in their books. Hamrick said students started from the beginning by coming up with an idea and ended by sewing the books together themselves. “I believe it is empowering for a person of any age to be able to say, ‘I made this,” Hamrick said. Written by Derek J. Amaya