How We See Ourselves - Class Highlight
How We See Ourselves is a brand-new Community ARTS class that focuses on photography as a tool for self-expression for 11 - 14 year olds. This class is taught by Beto Soto, an established multimedia artist and photographer and an ARTS Alumni!
Read our interview with Beto to learn more about his class and his professional practice below…
Tell us about your story and how you got to start teaching at ARTS this Spring:
My name is Beto Soto. I am a San Diego based multimedia artist focusing on photography. My photo work explores the lives of LGBTIA+ and immigrant communities and focuses on portraiture and documentary photography.
During December of 2021, I reached out to ARTS to see if there were any opportunities to teach a photo class and sure enough they did. I have always looked up to the teaching artists at ARTS who have mentored me and I have always wanted to be in their shoes. I took a chance and asked. I believe that in order to further your growth you must always always reflect on where you have been to where you are in the present moment.
Through my self reflection, it reminded me of how much of a benefit it was for me to be around artists in the ARTS space. I want to be that resource for the newest generation.
How have things changed since you were a student / Teaching Assistant at ARTS?
Things at ARTS feel similar to when I was a student/ Teaching Assistant. The same ambitious creative energy. The comfort and empowerment of the teaching artists to the students. The different projects the young students are creating. Artist Rob Tobin’s elaborate installations. Not to forget about the support system from staff. It all feels like home. It all feels familiar and comforting to me.
We’re curious about your class. How do you infuse your experience and expertise in your teaching style? What’s one of the best moments that you’ve experienced in this class?
My artistic work has evolved from painter, to muralist, to photographer. Reflecting on my artistic evolution, I use almost all of these mediums in my photographic work. Sometimes you have to make things work and use what you have in hand. For my class “How We See Ourselves,” the goal is to observe places and things as a way to create a beautiful image. We have looked at the images of photographers in the field and analyzed how they would have created their most outstanding images. We then use what we learned to find ways to express our self identity and ideas. Photography is a tool for self-expression and we can express ourselves in any way.
