Student Art Show, Can't Hold Me Down, Inspires and Edifies

Cliff Park High School has been a strong, alternative resource for education in the Springfield area for just over a decade. Established in the City of Springfield in 2013 this institution is part of a network of 19 schools across Ohio, and one now in Iowa, working under the umbrella conglomerate of Oakmont Education.

The school’s website has an entire page dedicated to their approach: “Cliff Park High School is a unique high school serving students ages 15-21 who have been failed by traditional schools. We know that every student learns differently. Our approach is to understand what each student needs to succeed and help them chart a path to graduation. Our flexible school hours, individualized learning plans, and lots of support from caring teachers, allow each student to work at their own pace, earning credits towards graduation as quickly as they can or as slowly as they need to.”

The current director Ciqueda Knight moved to this location after working as the dean of students for the branch in Dayton. Knight says “It’s always been a passion of mine to help kids get to their finish line in any capacity. Whether that is academic, social, or emotional…whatever their case may be. Just motivating them.” Knight came to Cliff Park specifically to instill successful programming she had observed while operating at other locations. Upon her arrival she was introduced to artist Ty Fischer, a Springfield Native who noticed the work Cliff Park High School was doing for its students and was inspired to propose an exhibition.

Can’t Hold Me Down is currently installed at The Springfield Museum of Art, as of November. It has been a two year-long process, which aims to highlight the circumstances of the youth who attend institutions such as this. “After meeting with the staff and students of Cliff Park HS I felt there is a misunderstanding of what Cliff Park is to the community of Springfield. Not only is it a second opportunity for many students to get their high school diploma and learn a trade, but a safe haven for these students where they felt important, loved and supported by a staff that was more like family than an administration ", comments Fischer.

Primarily working in photography, his interest is in exploring community narratives through his ‘Your Story’ participatory storytelling and photography projects. Through his work, Fischer hopes that his portraits encourage conversation, connection, and the possibility of viewing others through their own lens.

At least 20 students who were interested in participating were asked to write and record their own stories of personal challenge and resilience. These were processed and then it was time to collect their portraits.

In the end, 17 individuals made it through each stage and were included in the assemblage. According to his artist’s statement: “Each student reflected on their educational journey, sharing experiences of struggle and strength.”

Listening to each student’s recording as he photographed them, Fischer let each student’s words guide his creative approach in making their portrait. The resulting prismatic lenticular portraits combine three different images: a black-and-white portrait, a collage of each student’s most impactful words, and an AI-generated image embodying the student’s positive emotions about their individual path of growth and perseverance.”

Similar to a hologram, each image is seen based on your viewing position. While observing the visuals, a small QR code is provided at each station on display for a phone to scan with its camera. This will automatically take your phone to the recording of the student’s personal retelling of their chronicle. 

Some participants report taking an evening to put their story together. Others say it was a week-long endeavor for theirs. Nonetheless, each took incredible care and vulnerability to present their image on a public scale. For many this opportunity presented a challenge to overcome anxiety, and found cathartic relief through it. Others thought about it more externally, hoping for it to be a way of lifting up others who might relate to their story.

Student Bradon Ervin offers “I’m not really afraid to tell my story, I like to use it to inspire. When I talk about living in a hotel, there were 5 of us, we were paying out of pocket between us. Me, my two little brothers, my mom and my dad were all putting in effort to pitch in somehow. You don’t get to sit around and do nothing, I try to use that so people get up and make something of themselves. I hope when people listen to it, they take into consideration what just me, as a 16/17 year old, could do to help what I was going through. If you stick with it you’ll get yourself to where you want to be.”

Another student, Jae’lyn Ervin, says, “I hope that people see it as relatable. I struggle with thinking that I’m the only person in the world that has insecurities or these problems. Seeing other people with the same issues is very comforting. To not feel so alone, especially as teenagers, is hard. Everybody’s insecure, everybody’s anxious or embarrassed of what’s to come. I feel like this was good to let each other know that we’re not that different.

“Everybody’s got some kind of baggage…something that’s on their mind. It was definitely nerve-wracking. But looking at my story, I even had to do my own research to find people going through the same struggle. It helped me realize it’s not a super scary situation if they turned out fine and had good suggestions to say. I hope to be that person for somebody else.”

Fischer explains what he hopes folks gather upon experiencing Can’t Hold Me Down, saying, “I would like visitors to take away the resilience many of these students have shown in their young life. After listening to their stories you'll understand the barriers and situations that many of these students faced and endured from a young age and how they chose to not give up, get back up and chose to bet on themself. Also, how Cliff Park HS has not only recognized that these students have been through trauma but how they have nurtured them, and helped them believe in themselves and further their education, social environment and overall happiness.”

According to Director Knight, observing her student’s response while participating and thereafter, has been monumental. As she says, “Seeing it come to life, the students writing and recording their stories and then the finished product, is mind-blowing. Very humbling to be able to work with some very brave, transparent, and resilient students. There are adults my age and older that wouldn’t even have the type of courage to tell and share their stories like that. It gives you chills.”

She proceeds to touch on her expectations that come from Can't Hold Me Down, saying, “I hope that it paints a different picture of what types of students go here. I think charter schools have this negative connotation a lot of the time. People think that all the kids here are bad just because we’re an alternative option to a traditional education. These are your everyday kids, going through the same struggles and celebrations as anybody else. I’ve seen so many of the participants come out of their shell, just blossoming as a result of this project.”

Knight even made it a point to arrange for the latest board meeting for the high school to be held at the museum.

It goes without saying that the success which Cliff Park High School has observed in its alternative curriculum is reflection of the tenacity of its student body. Ty Fischer’s spotlight on this center of learning is a portal for others to be able to see the value its pupils see. It also has a bold undercurrent which reveals everyday struggles and social issues that are detrimental to the youth of today. This is an entirely community funded exhibit, and will be accessible until the end of the year, only at the Springfield Museum of Art.

“One student’s attendance has even gotten better,” says Knight, “They’re allowing themselves to stand out more. I think other students who didn’t participate wish they did.”