Things are heating up at the Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts and before too much more time goes by I want to take time out to thank a few key members who have been instrumental in facilitating the rebranding @RIPhotoArts. To Cemal Ekin for his active interest in seeing this project succeed, his feedback and his technical support in launching our website. To David Wells for his free professional advice, his genuine desire to see us succeed and his willingness to gallery sit when he is in town. To David Pinkham for his advice, assistance and his willingness to gallery sit on a regular basis. To Aaron Usher and Steve Mason for their support and efforts promoting the Center, bringing new visitors to our door. To Emily Stoermer for her enthusiasm, energy and marketing skills. Thanks also to all the very talented photographers who have exhibited their work in our galleries, we hope you enjoyed the experience and will be interested in supporting our future. A very special thank you to the all of the new and renewing members who paid to help keep the doors open and to all the visitors to our galleries. Without all of your efforts, assistance and support the project would not be as successful nor as much fun… Thanks!
A few updates and upcoming projects I want to share
Our Open Member Show was a great success, thanks to all the Members who participated. It was well received locally and impressed all who had the opportunity to stop in to view your efforts. We will be following up with a juried members show in September. This next Members exhibition opportunity will be paired with Balancing Cultures by Jerry Takigawa. Jerry’s exhibition explores and gives voice to a long-silenced family story with national impact.
Exhibition Dates: September 21 – October 13 Drop off in the Gallery September 13th, more details to follow.
Our Light Studies at WaterFire workshop with David Wells was such a success we will be running it again in October.
We have partnered with One Gun Gone to help fundraise for a Gun Buyback event designed to get unwanted guns off the streets. In collaboration with One Gun Gone, we are offering two opportunities for interested parties to participate in reducing gun violence in America. First, we are selling a special edition Candle Gun Sculpture, available on our website produced by One Gun Gone, proceeds from the sale of each sculpture will buy back one handgun. Secondly, we are launching a Call for Entries on CaFE for an exhibition in October. This call is for images that address the impact of gun violence, how it affects you, your community. Profits from the call will go directly toward buying back unwanted guns, a $1000 in prize money will be awarded or the winners have the option to donate back the prize money to buy back even more guns.
There are a number of other exhibitions in the planning stages including a juried Open Call in November… more details to follow.
Currently, in the galleries, we have “Lens Traveler” a selection of Color and B&W photographs from Ron Rosenstock’s world travels. The Exhibit opens on Gallery Night July 19 and will be on view through August 10th. Ron will be presenting a talk on his image making process and philosophy, August 8th at second Wednesday Salon.
We hope you’ll stop in and say hello.
David
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