Until Feb. 25, Steenbock Gallery will be displaying an impressive exhibit consisting of over 30 photographs taken by seventh grade art students at Cherokee Middle School. These young photographers, taught by Amy Mietzel, were taught the basics of digital cameras and assigned to “take something ordinary and make it extra-ordinary.” The students let their imaginations run wild and took photos of scenes that may not have had obvious photographic potential.

Some truly wonderful shots in this exhibit say a great deal about not only the students themselves but also the public school system. The attention being given to technology in our public schools is laudable; art isn’t limited to pencils and paintbrushes after all. High-quality cameras were used, giving the students the confidence to let their creativity shine through.

The many principles of good photography are also evident, as emphasis, balance, unity and lighting are given attention. After being provided with the proper tools and tips, the students were able to develop their potential into photographic skill.

The collection of unused, multicolored sports balls on top of a bed of compacted snow hints at how winter would take away a child’s lunch-time football games and replace them with “A Goofy Movie” or “The Lion King” in the auditorium. A few girls’ dancing shadows on an average sidewalk are reminiscent of the times that schoolchildren would do anything to have language arts class outdoors for a change on a pleasantly cool autumn afternoon.

One shot, where a boy is fearlessly staring through the spokes of a bike, brings the viewer back to when bikes meant absolute freedom in the summers, and the extent of his or her confidence had a lot to do with the size of one’s fleet of riders. Viewers of this gallery, if they went to middle school, should be able to relate to at least few of these shots and might experience a revisiting of some important childhood memories.

Yet middle school wasn’t all smiles; caution tape blocking an entrance reminds the onlooker that reality can be cruel, and tragedies happen to even the most innocent. A girl with an angst-ridden gaze sitting upon a vibrant green field on a sunny day brings one back to when, no matter how nice it was outside, there were days that just didn’t feel right. While one might merely see depression in a shot like this, it is more important to realize the new avenue of expression being introduced to these kids.

Expression can, in fact, be much more effective in helping us deal with the stress and insecurities of life than medication, whether it’s doctor-prescribed or self-implemented. Hopefully these youths can enjoy some comfort in knowing that when they cannot find the words to explain themselves, a picture can speak a thousand.

In the various portraits, students express a variety of emotions. Intrigued curiosity, lonely hope, cool confidence and joyous exhilaration are a few that everyone can relate with those emotional middle-school years. The photographs speak for themselves; one leaves Steenbock Gallery with a newfound understanding of the people behind, and in front of, the camera. No, they’re not just kids; they’re people, too. More importantly, they are a talented group of artists with a lot of potential. This exhibit is a journey into the rarely explored perspective of our next generation, and it is definitely worth a visit.

Take Something Ordinary will be at Steenbock Gallery at 1922 University Avenue until Feb. 25. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free.