Light Work facts for kids
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| Formation | 1973 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Phil Block and Tom Bryan |
| Type | Photography center |
| Headquarters | Menschel Media Center Syracuse University |
| Location | |
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Director
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Dan Boardman |
Light Work is a special place in Syracuse, New York, where people can learn about and create amazing photographs. It's a non-profit organization run by artists. They help photographers by offering a cool digital lab, special programs where artists can stay and work, art shows, and even publish books and magazines.
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About Light Work
Light Work is located at Syracuse University, inside the Robert B. Menschel Media Center. It was started in 1973 by two founders, Phil Block and Tom Bryan. Jeffrey Hoone led Light Work for many years, starting in 1982. He retired in 2021.
Many groups help Light Work with money and support. These include the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts. Other partners like the Everson Museum of Art and the Urban Video Project (UVP) also work with Light Work.
Jeffrey Hoone first joined Light Work in 1980. He became the director in 1982 and then the executive director until 2021. After leaving Light Work, he became the president of the Joy of Giving Something Foundation.
Programs for Artists
Light Work offers several programs to support photographers and artists. These programs help artists create new work and share it with others.
Artists-in-Residence Program
This program started in 1976. Each year, Light Work invites about a dozen artists to Syracuse. These artists come to work on new photography projects. They receive money to help with their costs and a furnished apartment to stay in. They also get help from the Light Work staff and can use all the facilities. In 2018, only about 1.3% of artists who applied were accepted into this program.
When artists finish their new work, it is shown in a special edition of Light Work's magazine, Contact Sheet: The Light Work Annual. This magazine also includes an essay about their work. The photos created by these artists become part of the Light Work collection.
As of 2022, more than 500 artists from 16 different countries have been part of this program. Some famous photographers who have participated include Cindy Sherman, Christian Patterson, and Carolyn Drake.
Light Work Lab
The Light Work Lab is a place where members can get technical help. It has a digital lab with equipment for printing and scanning photos. There are also private studios, darkrooms for black-and-white photography, and a lighting studio. The Lab also has a library full of photography books.
Light Work also offers workshops and classes. These classes teach everything from the basics of darkroom photography to digital photo editing. They also help artists learn how to grow their careers.
Urban Video Project (UVP)
The Urban Video Project (UVP) is a public art project by Light Work and Syracuse University. It uses technology to show art in public spaces. UVP displays art and videos on large screens around Syracuse. One main spot is near the Everson Museum of Art, where images are projected onto a building. These images are as big as an IMAX movie screen!
Art Shows and Exhibitions
Since it began, Light Work has put on over 400 art shows. Four new shows are set up each year in the Kathleen O. Ellis Gallery. Other places where Light Work shows art include its Hallway Gallery and the Robert B. Menschel Photography Gallery.
Light Work often works with the Urban Video Project (UVP) and the Everson Museum of Art. Sometimes, they even have shows in New York City at the Syracuse University Lubin House.
The Light Work Collection
The Light Work Collection is like a museum of photographs. It holds over 4,000 photos and art pieces.
Many of these works were created by artists who were part of the Artists-in-Residence program. For example, you can find early works by famous artists like Cindy Sherman and John Gossage that they made during their time at Light Work.
Publications
Light Work publishes a magazine called Contact Sheet. This magazine features new work by artists from all over the world. Five issues are released each year. They are designed like beautiful art books and do not have any advertisements. Many important photographers, like Carrie Mae Weems and Hank Willis Thomas, were featured in Contact Sheet early in their careers.
See also
In Spanish: Light Work para niños
