Fort Myers-based Global Community Engagement (GCE) and high school students from Fort Myers and Naples welcome the Dominican Republic-based director of Accin Callejera on Thursday, July 2, from 6 to 9 p.m. for the opening reception of Paperboys, an exhibit of works of hand-made paper and photography by local artist Chip Hoffman.

This latest project evolved from last summer’s exhibit of Hoffman’s photos of boys who live and work on the streets of Santiago, Dominican Republic. The vulnerable youth receive a variety of services from Accin Callejera (Street Action). GCE has been partnering with the charitable organization for the last nine years, bringing southwest Florida college and now high school students on alternative spring break programs to work directly with and experience the often harsh reality of the boys.

While youth groups from our region have been traveling to Santiago for several years, this is the first trip to Fort Myers for Accin Callejera Director Bentodina Jimenez. Her journey is planned specifically to witness the culmination of the work she has helped facilitate in her island nation.

In April, Hoffman led GCE staff, community members, high school students, and the boys of Accin Callejera in learning how to make paper from discarded fiber and other objects found in the boys’ environment. The group took blenders and “deckle” boxes (made by Sanibel craftsman Wil Compton) to Santiago and proceeded to experience first hand the ancient process of paper-making. After creating and assembling huge sheets of speckled, textured paper, the boys were invited to lay on the paper and have their bodies traced.

The end-product on display at Arts for ACT is a series of large, framed pieces, spectacular life-sized images of the boys’ silhouettes. The exhibit also includes Hoffman’s striking portrait photography of the boys and other Dominicans and Haitians in numerous environments. Also on display will be photos taken by the boys themselves, mounted on remnants of the handmade paper.

In the hopes of enhancing the boys’ livelihood options and potentially prompting a cottage industry, they will also be learning to make journals and stationery destined for sale in Santiago and in southwest Florida. This was Hoffman’s first experiment with paper-making in more than 20 years. Following formal studies in photography, he studied papermaking at the prestigious Banff Centre School of Fine Arts in Alberta, Canada. Hoffman earned an MFA from the University of Illinois, Chicago.

Proceeds from sales of the works benefit Accin Callejera (the largest non-profit in Santiago) and ACT, Abuse Counseling and Treatment, which works to fight violence and sexual assault in Southwest Florida. GCE emphasizes that most of the boys served in this project are at risk of being sexually exploited, abused, or becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol. GCE’s Executive Director Craig Heller believes that “no child or adult should have to live in conditions where her or his life or health are endangered and without hope for the future.”

The reception and month-long show are located at the Arts for ACT gallery, 2265 First Street in the Historic Fort Myers River District. You can go to: www.artsforactgallery.com for more information.