Brooks at UCSB brings photography classes to the University in 2019
A former Santa Barbara institution is making a comeback.
Brooks at UCSB, is based on a similar philosophy linked to the highly skilled photographers, professors and extensive works of art found at the former and now defunct Brooks Institute of Photography.
“Photography. It’s one of the only media that we have that any language can understand,” said Ernest Brooks, Founder Emeritus, Former President, Brooks Institute of Photography. His namesake father, Ernest H. Brooks, founded the original Institute in 1945.
Brooks was recently interviewed to reflect on a new development in the art world, “Brooks at UCSB.” It is a partnership between the University and the newly founded Brooks. The pilot program launches in January 2019 and will mirror aspects of the former photography institution.
‘We’re very pleased to continue on with that history and that legacy,” Dr. John Majewski said.
Majewski, Michael Douglas Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts at UCSB, along with Anne Smith Towbes, former Brooks faculty members and CEO of the Ernest Brooks Foundation, Anthony Korba, all played instrumental roles helping establish this new partnership.
Majewski said four former Brooks Institute of Photography faculty members will be back teaching four specialized classes: Photography Boot Camp, Visualizing Our Natural World, Basic Digital Darkroom Techniques, and Visual Storyteller.
“We’re excited about English and writing majors, for example, taking courses in digital photography so when they want to do social media or blogs or digital journalism, they’ll be really well prepared to do that,” Majewski said.
The quality is expected to rival the reputation of the former Institute, once churning out a Pulitzer Prize-winning war photographer as well as world renown fashion and nature photographers over the decades.
Majewski said it’s taken nearly two years to bring Brooks to life following the original Institute’s 70-year-long run, before moving to Ventura and abruptly closing in 2016.
“It’s taken a lot of planning, it’s taken a lot of effort but we’re thrilled at the results and we think it’s going to be a great program for UCSB,” Majewski said.
The program will create a new collection of images for the start to a new conversation, from right off our coast.
“That’s what I love about our mission and to have that come alive again with UCSB and Brooks …is a real treasure,” Brooks said.
‘Brooks at UCSB’ is linked to the University’s Professional and Continuing Education Program at Kerr Hall.
Photography classes begin Jan. 12, 2019, for the winter and spring quarters and are open to UCSB and Santa Barbara City College students, as well as local residents.
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