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Center for Photography at Woodstock facts for kids

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The Center for Photography at Woodstock (CPW) started in 1977. It is a non-profit group that helps artists who work with photography. It also helps people learn about and enjoy photography. CPW's main goal is to offer programs that involve the community, support artists, and encourage teamwork. They have art shows, workshops, and special programs for artists. They also have a digital media lab. In 2022, CPW moved from Woodstock to Kingston, New York.

History

The Center for Photography at Woodstock began in February 1977. Two photographers, Howard Greenberg and Michael Feinberg, started it. It was in Woodstock, a town known for its many artists. The idea was to create a place where local photographers could meet. At first, it was called the Catskill Center for Photography. It opened with workshops and an art show featuring photos by Walker Evans and Paul Strand.

For over 40 years, CPW became a well-known place. It connected photographers with exciting art shows and places to learn. They also had talks and a library with many photo books. CPW's programs are all about helping the community and artists. Through its classes and outreach, CPW helps people of all ages create photos. They also explore how photography fits into today's world.

Exhibitions

CPW puts on many art shows. These shows feature amazing photographs and related art. They help people see new kinds of art and learn about different artists.

Program history

The Center for Photography at Woodstock started in 1977. It was founded by photographers Howard Greenberg and Michael Feinberg. They opened it in a coffeehouse in Woodstock. Woodstock is famous for being home to one of the oldest artist communities in the country. The center was meant to be a meeting spot for local photographers. It was first called the Catskill Center for Photography. Its first events were workshops and an exhibition of photos by Walker Evans and Paul Strand.

For more than four decades, CPW became an important place. It was a hub for talking about and discovering photography. It connected photographers with interesting exhibitions. It also offered learning and printing facilities. There were lectures, discussions, a photography library, and a collection of artworks. Programs that involve the community and support artists are still at the heart of CPW's mission.

The Woodstock AIR program is a special artist-in-residence program. It started in 1999 and is known across the country. It directly helps artists of color who work with photography. So far, over 150 photographers have joined this program. Some famous artists include LaToya Ruby Frazier, Deana Lawson, Tommy Kha, and Paul Mpagi Sepuya.

The Center today

After 45 years in Woodstock, CPW moved in 2021. It moved to a new space on Broadway in Kingston, New York. Kingston is a growing and diverse artist community. It has other cultural places that are similar to CPW. In February 2023, CPW bought an old cigar factory. It is called the Van Slyke & Horton factory. This building was built in 1907. It is four stories tall and very large. It has red brick walls and big open rooms. The ceilings are very high, and there are windows on all sides. These windows offer great views of the Catskill Mountains.

Once the building is fixed up, it will be used for many things. It will have art galleries and a digital media lab. There will be classrooms and photography studios. It will also have darkrooms for developing photos. There will be community meeting rooms and offices for staff. A film screening theater will be built too. Plus, there will be a modern storage area for their art collection. This new space will help CPW offer more tools and chances for artists. It will also help creative workers and the public. This includes the artist residency program. It will also provide access to equipment and workspaces. There will be more exhibition chances. And it will encourage talks about photography and social justice.

Workshop and lecture series

CPW offers special photography workshops. These are called the Woodstock Photography Workshops. They let artists learn about specific topics in a close setting. The workshops started in 1978. They cover many topics, skills, and age levels. You can learn about old photography methods. Or you can learn how to take better photos with your smartphone. Some workshops also include a lecture that anyone can attend.

Notable instructors

Many famous artists and teachers have led workshops at CPW. Some recent instructors include Sam Abell, Craig J Barber, Dawoud Bey, Elinor Carucci, Ron Haviv, Christopher James, Ed Kashi, Bobbi Lane, and Mary Ellen Mark.

Woodstock A-I-R program

Program history

The Artist in Residency (A-I-R) program started in 1999. It has helped almost 100 artists. Artinfo magazine even named it one of the top 20 artist residencies in the country. The Woodstock A-I-R Program was created to support artists of color who work with photography. The program lets artists use CPW's facilities. It also gives them support and time to work. Artists in the program get paid for their time. They also get housing, food, and money for travel. Materials for their art are also much cheaper for them.

Notable AIRs

Artists

  • William Cordova
  • LaToya Ruby Frazier
  • Nikita Gale
  • Nydia Blas
  • Tommy Kha
  • Alma Leiva
  • Xaviera Simmons
  • Deana Lawson
  • Keisha Scarville

Critical studies

  • Emilie Boone
  • Nicole Caruth
  • Liz Park
  • crystal a.m. nelson

Permanent print collection

History

Since 1980, CPW has collected over 1,750 artworks. These include prints, videos, and other photo-based pieces. Many artists in CPW's programs, like Woodstock A-I-R, have works in the collection. Many artworks have been given as gifts by artists and private donors. Also, since 2001, CPW has bought one artwork each year from its "Photography Now" exhibition. Artists who receive CPW's Photographer's Fellowship Fund or join WOODSTOCK A-I-R must give a sample of their work to the collection. This collection helps keep a record of CPW's past programs.

Key works

Dorsky partnership

Since 1995, CPW's permanent print collection has been on loan. It is kept at the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art (SDMA). The SDMA opened in 2000. It is one of the largest art museums in the SUNY school system. It has over 17,000 square feet of space. The SDMA is an important place for the community. It shows both old and new art. The museum also has its own collection of over 5,000 artworks. The museum sometimes puts on shows using CPW's collection. Some past shows include:

  • All Hot and Bothered (2008)
  • Thoughts of Home (2011)
  • Race, Love, and Labor (2014)

Photography Quarterly

Photography Quarterly was a magazine started in 1979. The original founders created it. It began as a small black and white brochure. Its goal was to share ideas about fine art photography beyond Woodstock. The publication grew into a full-color, 60-page magazine. It featured art shows, essays by curators, and artists' portfolios. PQ was last published in 2009.

Photographers’ Fellowship fund

Program history

The Fellowship fund started in 1980. It gave over $77,000 to 87 artists from the region. When it began, two artists each received $1,000. Later, it changed to one artist receiving $2,500 each year. The artist who received the award had to donate a work to CPW's Permanent Print Collection. This Fellowship fund is no longer active.

Notable recipients

  • Craig J. Barber
  • Lucinda Devlin
  • Isaac Diggs
  • Kenro Izu
  • Tanya Marcuse
  • Andrea Modica
  • Neil C. Trager

Services for artists

Workspace

CPW has a Digital Media Lab. The Center for Photography at Woodstock has a modern digital lab, a darkroom, and a library.

Darkroom

The Darkroom is set up for processing black-and-white film. You can also print photos there. Staff are available to help and guide users.

Library

The Library has over 1,500 books, exhibition catalogs, and magazines. It is open to everyone. This library has one of the largest collections of photography books in the area. It includes books by single artists, exhibition catalogs, and critical texts. It also has publications like Aperture, Art Papers, Nueva Luz, PQ, and Blindspot.

New books have been added recently. These include Brian Ulrich's Is This Place Great or What?, Robert Adams’ The Place We Live, Michal Chelbin's The Black Eye, and Diego Uchitel's Polaroids.

Photographer’s Salon

The Photographers’ Salon is a group that meets once a month. It is led by Richard Edelman and Carlos Loret de Mola. In the 1970s and 80s, Lilo Raymond and Dan McCormack led the Salon. Then, Harriet Tannin and Levi Cruz led it in the 90s. The Salon helps artists get new ideas and helpful feedback from other artists in the area.

Membership

CPW offers different levels of membership. These include basic, advanced, student, senior, friend/family, and patron. Memberships help support the organization. Each level comes with special benefits.

Board of directors

The Board has 13 elected members. They support CPW and help with the organization's activities.

  • Howard Greenberg – Founder, Chair
  • Stan Sagner – President
  • Barry Mayo – Vice President
  • Clinton Cargill – Treasurer
  • Jesse Blatt – Secretary
  • Alex Davis
  • Michael Knauth
  • Aaron Rezny
  • Jed Root
  • Tevis Trower
  • William Van Roden
  • Steven Wechsler
  • Andy Young

(as of June 2018)

Notable funding contributors

  • Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts
  • Edith & Phillip Leonian Foundation
  • New York State Council on the Arts
  • National Endowment for the Arts
  • Thompson Family Foundation
  • Milton & Sally Avery Arts Foundation
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