Members: Stronger Together 

2020: Remote Through a Pandemic

The Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts presents this special 2021 Member exhibition to celebrate two online member projects running remotely through 2020.

This exhibition brings together a selection of Member work collected from a pair of year long projects running at the Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts. As we sheltered in-place during the COVID-19 pandemic we took our monthly Print Share & Peer Review sessions online through the use of cluster.co and launched re/vision (a weekly Crit Group) with the use of the now ubiquitous Zoom video conferencing service. With isolation stretching out along an indeterminate path in front of us, these are two of the ways we found to stay connected and find our way forward. Without the ability to travel, to gather, and as in person events ceased these ongoing projects provided a way to engage and keep our photographic practices active. Some members were able to continue on much as before, some explored alternate subject matter while others used the time to revisit older work from a new perspective. Some explored all of these, and… happily some were able to develop new techniques, new ways of seeing, and new subject matter to explore.  Some of us just got through it fueled by the shared energy and are happy that together we all made it through to 2021.

– David DeMelim, Managing Director
                Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts

 

Members: Stronger Together 

Presents work created by the supporting members of re/vision, introduces 2020 in a Box, a limited edition portfolio of prints and a book made from work shared by participants of our Print Share & Peer Review project.

re/vision includes: Angela C. Brown, Jody Brown, Bill Clark, David DeMelim, Deb Ehrens, Eileen McCarney Muldoon, David S. Pinkham, Keith Prue, Steve Szydlowski & Cindy Horovitz Wilson.
Print Share & Peer Review  participating members are: Denise Bass, Sharon Bibeault, Bill Clark, David DeMelim, A. Cemal Ekin, John Femino, David Fleurant, Donald Johnson, George Lowell and Steve Szydlowski. 

Schedule*

Gallery Exhibition:  April 15th – May 14th
Gallery Hours:  Thursdays & Fridays & Saturdays 1:00 – 6:00pm. 
Gallery Visits: By Chance or Appointment, email gallery@riphotocenter.org
Reception*: April 15th, 2020 2:00 – 8:00 p.m.

*subject to current capacity restrictions, masks required

Introducing: re/vision 

re/vision is a group of supporting members committed in their practice to Review, Inspire, Contemplate, Promote and Advance their own photographic practice and that of others. We gather to re/view, re/vise, re/think, re/focus, re/frame, re/store, re/new and re/imagine our world. This gallery exhibition presents work shared, developed or informed by this yearlong collaboration and introduces our first portfolio project, 2020 in a Box.

About re/vision:  

In April 2020 we started a Crit Group with the use of the Zoom video conferencing service. The group, composed of Supporting Members, started with no formal agenda, no commitment was expected, no minutes were kept and yet we still gather every week to share work, offer feedback and connect. The initial goal was to provide a way to stay connected and an incentive to stay active photographically. Together we helped to discover new subject matter or new ways of thinking as the size of our worlds shrank overnight.  Participants were encouraged to bring a selection of their own work to share and be prepared to offer feedback on work presented. We shared and commented on each other’s work, offering encouragement on work in progress and suggestions for next steps.  Shared resources, book suggestions, a few YouTube videos and watch parties for short documentaries on lesser known photographers became valued supplements. These sessions provided a point of connection, needed feedback on work in progress or just a way to connect.

This gallery exhibition presents a selection of work shared, developed or otherwise connected to this journey we took together, some represent new directions, explorations or working methods developed during this shared journey while others present new work from established bodies of work.

2020 in Box: our first portfolio project

re/vision is: Angela C. Brown, Jody Brown, Bill Clark, David DeMelim, Deb Ehrens, Eileen Muldoon, David Pinkham, Keith Prue, Steve Szydlowski & Cindy Wilson  

The Portfolio was conceived as a way to document our shared experience and was produced in a limited edition of 14 sets. The portfolio includes one numbered and signed print from each of the re/vision members presented as a fundraiser. One hundred percent of the sale of the portfolios will go to supporting ongoing programing at the Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts. This collectors set is sure to sell out fast.   

The Print Share & Peer Review Book:

Print Share & Peer Review: In March 2020 COVID-19 arrived and the Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts took our monthly Print Share & Peer review sessions online through the use of cluster.co  Cluster provided a way to share work online, provide written comments and automatically archived the exchange. This book is not currently for sale and exists as a single copy to mark this collaboration. Presented online here, the book is also available for viewing as part of the RICPA library at 118 N. Main St. in Providence, RI.

This book presents a collection of work from Print Share & Peer Review members: Denise Bass, Sharon Bibeault, Bill Clark, David DeMelim, A. Cemal Ekin, John Femino, David Fleurant, Donald Johnson, George Lowell and Steve Szydlowski. This book is not so much an attempt to present the best of the work shared but rather to document and revisit this shared journey.  We would like to thank all the photographers who shared not only their own work but their feedback on the work presented by other members.

About the Print Share & Peer Review Program:

Print Share Nights are a drop in open event held on the last Wednesday of the Month in the gallery and provide a chance to meet and share work. In April 2020 we went online taking advantage of the web based sharing service Cluster.co  All the previous participants were invited to share their work remotely, providing a safe way to continue working and a mechanism to stay connected as the world shut down. The platform provided a way to continue remotely, sharing work, posting feedback on new work, work in progress and even sharing tips on scanning film, providing access to old and nearly forgotten images. 

Click the book to view larger

This Book assembles work from our monthly Print Share group shared online in the time of COVID-19. The group continued sharing work online with the use of Cluster.co, not as satisfying as meeting and sharing feedback in person, but the best option at the time to stay connected and provide some incentive to keep shooting. The RICPA Print Share & Peer Review book brings together a selection of work shared to explore common themes, struggles and successes while also including thumbnails of all the posted images. This book marks one year of sharing work virtually and includes work from members: Denise Bass, Sharon Bibeault, Bill Clark, David DeMelim, A. Cemal Ekin, John Femino, David Fleurant, Donald Johnson & George Lowell.

Schedule*

Gallery Exhibition:  April 15th – May 14th
Gallery Hours:  Thursdays & Fridays & Saturdays 1:00 – 6:00pm. 
Gallery Visits: By Chance or Appointment, email gallery@riphotocenter.org
Reception*: April 15th, 2020 2:00 – 8:00 p.m.

*subject to current capacity restrictions, masks required

 

The RI Center for Photographic Arts, RICPA 118 N. Main St. Providence, RI 02903
Located in the heart of Providence, RICPA was founded to inspire creative development and provide opportunities to engage with the community through exhibitions, education, publication, and mutual support.

RICPA exists to create a diverse and supportive community for individuals interested in learning or working in the Photographic Arts. We strive to provide an environment conducive to the free exchange of ideas in an open and cooperative space. Members should share a passion for creating, appreciating, or learning about all forms of photo-based media. We work to provide a platform for artistic expression, that fosters dialogue and drives innovation in the photographic arts.

The Gallery at the Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts is a member of Gallery Night Providence https://www.gallerynight.org/

Want to become a RICPA Member? Membership brings many benefits and discounts, for more information and to find the membership level that fits you, visit our website at https://www.riphotocenter.org/membership-info/ You may become a member at entry, member benefits begin immediately and run 365 days from your start date.

Questions: Contact gallery@riphotocenter.org  To learn about other RICPA exhibits and programs, visit https://www.riphotocenter.org/.