For the first time, Paraguay will host the Asunción Biennial curated by Royce Smith, director of the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries at Wichita State.

And several students will be there to document it all.

“Our main focus is to document the event through photography and video,” junior Dale Small said. “The Ceramics Guild is also going to build a kiln for the artists in Paraguay who can’t afford one. The major purpose for us, though, is to just be there for a big event that has never occurred and just make sure people remember it.”

Seven students and a faculty member will experience art and culture from not only Paraguay, but from around the world. They will be immersed in a new setting to not only document art, but learn about it and their surroundings, as well.

“For most of the students going, this is their first time going to a place truly different from the U.S.,” said Jennifer Ray, assistant professor of photography.  “I hope that it will broaden their perspective and help them understand their place in the world, and I’m sure it will do the same for me.”

The trip will last 16 days, most of which will be spent documenting the biennial. For this trip, the photography students are trying to raise money to help offset the costs since each student needs about $2,500.

Through the support of the School of ADCI, the photography students have been able to spread the word through an Indiegogo account, an online donation collector. It is used vastly for art-related projects and ideas, but can be used by anyone.

The students are accepting donations through the campaign and are giving “perks” to those who donate and want one.

“We’ve had donations from people within the community to businesses like Harvester Arts and Easy Home Furnishings,” Small said. “The perks that people can get are based on how much they spend. They can get our photographs, postcards or photos from Jennifer Ray and Larry Schwarm.”  

Having been in the U.S. for only two years, sophomore Manuel Cáceres, is originally from Paraguay.

“For me, there is not going to be anything new about the country,” he said. “But the fact that the Biennial is going to be in Paraguay is something that is very interesting. I’m also very excited to share my country with my classmates and my teacher. Sharing the country, the culture and the people with them is going to be very exciting.”

The students still need more donations and help with fundraising.

“I think people should donate because this is not just about us going on a trip to have fun and take pictures,” Small said. “It’s a big, serious event that is about community, international involvement and relations, and we’re acting as ambassadors to the art school.”