Empowering Communities Through the Arts
Creating Exposure through the Arts (C.E.A.) is a non-profit located in Charlotte, North Carolina designed to mentor, educate, and empower youth by creating opportunities for exposure through the arts. Young artists will learn to be proficient in their craft under the supervision of professionals and volunteers.
After-school programs are conducted in various locations with local non-profit organizations (i.e. Arts & Science Council, Do Greater Charlotte, YMCA, Police Activities League, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Mecklenburg County Park, and Recreation Centers).
Mission and Vision
Our Mission is to mentor, empower, educate youth and create opportunities for artists to develop their talents while exposing them to new experiences and providing a vehicle of expression for a diverse group of individuals to showcase, preserve, cultivate and promote artistry.
Our Vision is to work with youth to develop their talents in various genres of the arts and showcase these abilities locally and nationally as we provide a vehicle to expose them to new experiences.
Meet the Founder
Mark Pendergrass has always been on a mission to change lives. Through years of mentoring, he witnessed how much a young person can be inspired just by placing a camera in their hands. It is this pure joy, pride, and excitement that serves as the foundation upon which Creating Exposure Through The Arts was founded.
With over 35 years of experience in Corporate America with Wells Fargo and an equal amount of years of volunteering with nonprofits in college and while working in Technology at Wells Fargo, in 2012 Creating Exposure Through The Arts (a 501c3 non-profit organization) was created to educate, mentor, empower youth and create opportunities for artists to develop their talents while exposing them to new experiences and providing a vehicle of expression for a diverse group of individuals to showcase, preserve, cultivate and promote artistry.
Mark continues to focus on the goals and vision of Creating Exposure Through The Arts, while also creating a few photo series, including “Behind The Ink”, which has expanded to an award-winning documentary series.
Born and raised in Harlem NY, Mark began his journey for the love for the arts as a young member of his family musical group (Pendergrass Sounds of Soul) which won amateur night at the Apollo when he was only 11 years old. A self-taught musician, he plays several instruments as well as sings. It was during his years at John F Kennedy HS (Bronx) and Rutgers University (NJ) where his love for photography and football enabled him to grow as a leader (Captain), athlete (HS QB, Division 1 Walk-On Wide Receiver) and journalist (Editor in Chief / Rutgers Black Voice Carta Boricua Newspaper, WRSU Radio personality, and freelance writer. He has been published in local and national magazines, including Jet Magazine, Vibe Magazine, MCA Records, The Charlotte Observer, The and The Charlotte Post. Currently, he lives in Charlotte NC where he has 37 years of experience in corporate America in banking/technology and over 20 years working in the non-profit industry.
Meet the Team
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Donald Sanchez was born and raised in the Bronx in New York City. He attended the High School of Art & Design in Manhattan, where he majored in advertising design and illustration. While there, his art studies included oil and watercolor painting, photography, packaging design, life drawing, and illustration just to name a few.
In 1985 he picked up a camera and began to pursue photography. His interest in Latin Jazz music led him to begin photographing well-known musicians performing in jazz clubs throughout the city. Donald is a published photographer, his work appearing in jazz magazines, several NYC newspapers, coffee table books, and a Charlotte street photography magazine.
He has had numerous gallery shows here and in New York. Currently, Donald is exhibiting ten of his photographs in Madrid, Spain at the residence of the U.S. Ambassador. He is scheduled to have a gallery show this September at Queens University celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Donald has been involved with Creating Exposure of the Arts, Inc., since 2019 and is presently serving as the curriculum coordinator.
Donald has been married for 36 years and has three adult children.
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Essynce Victoria, a native of Charlotte, NC, has been a part of the Creating Exposure Through The Arts family for almost 10+ years. She began as a student at CEA and was promoted to instructor after years of learning and working with founder, Mark Pendergrass.
During our inaugural partnership photography class with the Charlotte Lab High School, she was a lead instructor responsible for teaching and grading students for the semester.
Essynce specializes in headshots, weddings, and Events Photography. In addition to thriving in capturing the “essence” of her clients, she has also been preparing most of her life to take the acting industry by storm.
Essynce’s most recent works include Fatal Attraction (TVone), Are you there God? It’s me, Margaret (Lionsgate), and numerous commercials airing around the country.
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Originally from Reading, PA, Dirk has been an active and avid photographer for over 17 years, specializing in sports and event photography. Professionally, he works in the banking industry in Charlotte NC and during 2024 began volunteering during the Creating Exposure Through The Arts Teen Visual Arts programs.
“I started volunteering with CEA because I think it’s important to give back and offer encouragement to up and coming creatives.”
Our Journey and Milestones
Discover the key moments that shaped our organization.
2016 - Partnered with ASC Culture Blocks
Creating Exposure Through The Arts has been proudly supported by ASC Culture Blocks funding since 2016. Our mission aligns with Culture Blocks’ goals by engaging creative individuals and organizations focused on arts to present programs in specific geographic areas.
2019 - Grant Recipient
Received the “Foundation For the Carolina Reemprise” Grant
2021 - Film Awards for Behind the Ink
US Documentary Short Runner Up - Williamsburg International Film & Music Competition - NYC
Best Regional Film - CineOdyssey Film Festival - NC
Official Selection - Focus International Film Festival - USA
2022 - Grant Recipient
Recipient of the Knight Foundation Charlotte Art + Tech Expansion Fund Grant awarded to 29 Charlotte-based artists in four main categories: hardware/software, design/development, staffing, and digitization.
2023 - Partnered with Do Greater
We partnered with the non-profit organization “Do Greater” to build a semester photography curriculum and facilitate an “Introduction to Photography” class for the Charlotte Lab High School.
2024 - Museum Feature
Behind the Ink images featured at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in Uptown Charlotte.