Center for Photography at Woodstock facts for kids

The Center for Photography at Woodstock (CPW) is a special art group in Kingston, New York. It started in 1977. CPW helps artists who work with photography and other related art forms. It also helps people learn about and enjoy photography.

CPW offers many programs. These include art shows, workshops, and special programs for artists to live and work there. They also have a digital media lab for artists to use. In 2022, CPW moved from Woodstock to Kingston.

History of CPW

The Center for Photography at Woodstock began in February 1977. Two photographers, Howard Greenberg and Michael Feinberg, started it. It was first called the Catskill Center for Photography. It was a place for local photographers to meet and share ideas.

When it opened, CPW had workshops and an art show. It featured works by famous photographers like Walker Evans and Paul Strand. For over 40 years, CPW has helped photographers. It offers exciting art shows, places to learn and print photos, and talks. It also has a library and a collection of photos.

CPW's main goal is to connect artists and the community. Through its classes and outreach, CPW helps people of all ages. They learn to create photos and understand photography's role in today's world.

After 45 years in Woodstock, CPW moved to Kingston, New York, in 2021. Kingston is a growing art community. In February 2023, CPW bought an old cigar factory building. This building was built in 1907. It is a large, four-story building with big windows. Once it is fixed up, it will have art galleries, classrooms, and photo studios. It will also have a film theater and a place to store their photo collection. This move helps CPW offer more tools and chances for artists and the public.

Workshops and Lectures

Learning Programs at CPW

The main part of CPW's learning programs are the Woodstock Photography Workshops. These workshops let artists explore specific topics in a close setting. They started in 1978. The workshops cover many subjects and skill levels. You can learn old photo methods or how to take better smartphone pictures. Some workshops also include public lectures by the instructors.

Famous Teachers

Many well-known artists and teachers have led workshops at CPW. Some recent ones include Sam Abell, Dawoud Bey, Elinor Carucci, Ron Haviv, and Mary Ellen Mark.

Woodstock Artist-in-Residence Program

About the A-I-R Program

The Artist in Residency (A-I-R) program started in 1999. It has helped almost 100 artists. This program is known as one of the top 20 artist residencies in the country. The Woodstock A-I-R Program helps artists of color who work with photography. Artists in the program can use CPW's facilities. They also get money, housing, food, and travel help. They pay much less for art supplies.

Artists in the Program

Many notable artists have been part of this program.

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

CPW's Photo Collection

Collection History

Since 1980, CPW has collected over 1,750 photos, videos, and other photo-based artworks. Many of these works are from artists who participated in CPW's programs. Artists and private donors have given many pieces. CPW also buys a work each year from an artist in its "Photography Now" show. Artists in the A-I-R program also give a sample of their work to the collection. This helps keep a record of CPW's activities.

Important Works in the Collection

The collection includes works by many important artists.

• Elinor Carucci
• Larry Fink
• David Maisel
• Mary Ellen Mark
• Andrea Modica
• Stephen Shore
• Aaron Siskind
• W. Eugene Smith
• Edward Weston
• Minor White
• Gaede/ Striebel Archive

Partnership with Dorsky Museum

Since 1995, CPW's photo collection has been on loan to 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 museum shows both old and new art. It also has its own collection of over 5,000 artworks. The SDMA often has shows using photos from CPW's collection.

Photography Quarterly Magazine

Photography Quarterly, or PQ, was started in 1979 by CPW's founders. 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 colorful, 60-page magazine. It featured art shows, essays, and artist portfolios. PQ was last published in 2009.

Photographers' Fellowship Fund

About the Fellowship Fund

The Fellowship fund started in 1980. It has given 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 photo to CPW's collection. This Fellowship fund is no longer active.

Artists Who Received Fellowships

Some notable artists who received this fellowship include:

• Lucinda Devlin
• Kenro Izu
• Andrea Modica

Services for Artists

Workspace for Artists

CPW has a Digital Media Lab. This lab has modern equipment for digital photography. CPW also has a darkroom and a library.

Darkroom

The darkroom is set up for developing and printing black-and-white film. Staff are there 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 photo collections in the area. It includes works by Brian Ulrich, Robert Adams, Michal Chelbin, and Diego Uchitel.

Photographer's Salon

The Photographers' Salon is a group where artists can share their work. They meet once a month. Richard Edelman and Carlos Loret de Mola lead the group now. In the past, it was led by Lilo Raymond and Dan McCormack. The Salon helps artists get new ideas and helpful feedback from other artists.

Membership Options

CPW offers different levels of membership. These include basic, advanced, student, senior, friend/family, and patron. Memberships help support CPW's work. Each level offers different benefits to members.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors has 13 elected members. They help support CPW and are active in the organization.

• 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)