Christopher Verene Georgia State University Christopher was born in Dekalb, Illinois and educated in Atlanta, Georgia.  His undergraduate degree is from Emory University in Film Studies and Philosophy.  In Fall 1996 he will graduate with an MFA in photography from Georgia State University.  He has taught photography at Emory and Georgia State and often visits other schools to show and discuss his projects.  Christopher has been photographing his family for more than eight years.  His ongoing color photography projects use text and other storytelling methods to deal with personal struggles and joys among his family and friends.  Themes of mental illness, child abuse, addiction and recovery are often the basis of his stories. Recently, Christopher’s work has involved the teenagers who live in his family’s hometown in Illinois.  Christopher also works with teenagers as a mentor and teacher through Atlanta Youth Organizations.  Christopher’s work has been exhibited widely and is in the collections of several Atlanta collectors.