February, 2026
New Programs and new Opportunities are waiting for you.
As I announced last month, in addition to our regular gallery schedule, we are beginning a yearlong exploration of pinhole photography. I am happy to report, that the first shipments for our Studio Pinhole Project have gone out, and we will have an update on this invitational project in March. We are launching a series of initiatives, group projects and workshops under the umbrella of the SlowPhoto Initiative, the first of which are waiting for you to join us.
Thanks to the help of our Analog Saturday group, our custom made Pinhole CanCameras are available with an invitation to be a part of our SlowPhoto Initiative. This is part of our yearlong exploration of pinhole photography, the purchase of a CanCamera includes the option to participate in our SlowPhoto online presentation and book to document the project. Details are available on our website for this in person program. For our more remote members, we will be offering other pinhole programs throughout the year as part of our SlowPhoto initiative. We will also be offering a series of workshops, including, a one day session where we will walk you through building your own CanCamera. If you are not interested in the DYI aspect, shipping of our preloaded CanCameras is expected to run an additional $15, or more depending on your location..
Also new for 2026, Members are welcome to Claim their Frame as we run a single roll of film through our Pentax Spotmatic 35mm camera. The Camera will be passed from member to member until all 36 exposures have been made. The challenge is to expose a single frame to leave your mark on this project as we showcase our collective talents. Participation is first come, first served and the project will culminate in an online exhibition and book featuring the participating members. Read on for a more detailed explanation or visit our website to Claim your Frame.
One Camera, One Lens and Zero Megapixels… In this program you will start by building your very own plastic fantastic camera to join us for this year long collaboration. A Konstruktor Camera, waiting for you to assemble it, is included with registration. All participants will be working with this camera, to challenge their assumptions and create a unique body of work as we explore the limits and possibilities. One Camera, One Lens,12 Members interested in building a Konstruktor and exploring new creative options as we reimagine your potential. Be a Konstruktor, Build a Konstruktor… details below or visit our website
In person gallery events:
Analog Saturdays: join us on February 7th, 9:30am for conversation, sharing and occasional presentations by members and service providers. Open to Members and prospective members, shooting film, or an interest in working with any analog process.
Print Share & Peer Review: Bring some work to share and, join us on Wednesday February 11th, at 6:30 or join us for the new Saturday morning version of this program.
Closing Reception & Early Pickup: Last chance to view our Community Member Exhibition – February 13th, 5:00 – 7:00pm. Open house and early pickup of work on view..
Opening Reception: The Director’s Choice Exhibition – February 19th at 5:00-8:00pm
Join Us for this exploration of photographic prints and work in progress from Reed Pike & David DeMelim
New 4th Saturdays: Print Share & Peer Review, Saturday February 28th at 9:30am
Join Us for this Saturday morning version of this popular program. Bring a few prints, half a dozen (or more) or just come to observe and share your feedback. The purpose of the event is to share new or work in progress and get constructive feedback from your peers.
March 28th… for our second 4th Saturday of the month program to explore photo books, artist books and more…
Join us for this Book Share and info session on artist books and self publishing
Bring a book to share, either a book you made, or your favorite photo book. Grab a book and join us…
Details and links to events are included below, and also available on our website at riphotocenter.org
The gallery is open Wednesdays – Saturdays, Noon – 6:00pm or by appointment
– David DeMelim
Managing Director
New Member Opportunities for 2026
Members Wanted to… Claim your Frame:
Claim your Frame:
one roll of film, one camera, one shared challenge
We are looking for 36 Members interested in adding one shot to a single roll of film to create an online showcase of our Member’s talents and interests.
From this one roll of film, we going to produce a Zine and a handmade book, complete with a genuine (gelatin silver) contact sheet. We are looking to showcase the talents of our participating members while exploring the unique experience of shooting film. The project will be presented online, and featured in our Street Side gallery space.
Your challenge is to expose one frame, and one frame only, to add your mark to this project.
See our web site for details and link to registration
There is a $36 participation fee to offset associated costs.
SlowPhoto with our CanCameras
Join our SlowPhoto Initiative, and explore photography’s analog roots…
Track the sun and more with our long duration pinhole CanCameras. No experience required and while we are working with light sensitive materials, no chemistry or darkroom is required.
SlowPhoto is one of the easiest and slowest ways to take a photograph, exposures generally range from 1-3 months, and often longer. These pinhole cameras take us back to the camera obscura (darkened room) and the origins of photography. These cameras are uniquely capable of recording the path of the sun across the sky. They also offer a number of other creative image capture possibilities, as exposures are built across a series of days, weeks, or even months. Capturing an entire year, or more is possible with our CanCameras.
We are opening the project up to our larger membership and our custom made preloaded CanCameras are now available in the gallery for in person pickup. The $10 price includes a scan of your resulting photograph, inclusion in an online archive and eligibility to be included in a book to document the project.
Visit our website to order your CanCamera(s)
Reloading of CanCameras will be available for $5, when you bring the camera back to the gallery.
Our CanCameras are now available in two sizes, the Pint can, show here in black, but also available in silver, and a new standard 12oz size can. The pint cans come loaded with 5″ x 7″ photo paper, and are designed to be deployed with the plastic cap down, while the 12oz cans are loaded with 4″ x 5″ photo paper. These will also work with 4×5 film and are suitable for making conventional pinhole photographs, with the aid of a darkroom or photo lab. The 12oz CanCameras currently come disguised as cans of Whalers, (RISE APA) beer. Alternate styles may become available, including plain silver. The 12oz CanCameras have a centered pinhole and can be deployed with the plastic cap facing up.
If you are not able to pickup your camera in person, feel free to email us your mailing address. Shipping of our preloaded CanCameras is expected to run an additional $15, or more depending on your location..
Workshops & Mentorship
Be a Konstruktor, Build a Konstruktor…
Build your very own plastic fantastic camera and join us for this year long mentorship program. The Konstruktor Camera kit, pictured, is included with your registration. All participants will be working with this camera, to challenge their assumptions and create a unique body of work as we explore the limits and possibilities. One Camera, One Lens, looking for up to 12 Members interested in building a Konstruktor and exploring new creative options as we reimagine your potential.
The program will piggyback on Analog Saturdays, meeting at 8:30am on First Saturdays starting in March. These in person meetings will be supplemented with Zoom sessions every other month on the third Wednesday of the month from 7:00 – 9:00pm, starting on March 18th.
In addition to the group sessions each participant will have three, one on one review sessions to refine, define and prepare a body of work for exhibition.
The project will include a series of in gallery features, an online gallery to share work and ultimately a book of our journey together and the collected work developed.
There are only 12 seats available for this year long Program.
Don’t miss your chance to be a Konstruktor
New & in person for 2026…
Join Us on the 4th Saturday of the Month
Join Us at 9:30am on the 4th Saturday of each month
February’s 4th program will be a Morning edition of our popular Print Share program.
Bring work to share, 10-15 images and join us… as we provide conversation and feedback on the work presented in the Peer to Peer program.
Saturday, February 28th 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Books will be back in March for our second PhotoBook share event,
Artist books, Handmade, Self published, or Commercially published.
Grab a book to share and join us… as we explore handmade books and self publishing options, and books from our library.
Saturday, March 28th 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Programs are open to anyone with an interest in photography, and learning more about the Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts. Ideal for anyone interested in seeing new work and developing their vocabulary to provide constructive feedback when talking about photography and artwork in general
Currently in the Gallery:
6th Annual Open Community Members Exhibition
Be a Friend, Bring a Friend
Exhibition: Thursday, December 18th thru Friday, February 13th, 2026
Closing Reception & Early Pickup: February 13th, 5:00 – 7:00pm
Pickup of Work: February 14th, Noon -5:00pm
Analog Saturdays:
First Saturday of the Month
Join us in the gallery Saturday, February 7th 9:30am, we’ll provide the Coffee…
Come for Coffee, Conversation and to Share the joys, (and challenges) of Analog Photography.
Open to Members, and prospective members, who are working with film, or other analog photographic process. This program will run on the first Saturday of the month, and much like our Print Share & Peer Review program, will offer participants the opportunity to share their work, their knowledge, and their resources. The program will also provide the opportunity for short presentations by members or invited presenters.
Join us Saturday, February 7th
Coffee & Film: First Saturdays, 9:30am
Print Share & Peer Review:
Second Wednesday of the Month
Join us at the Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts for an open peer review. Bring a few prints, half a dozen (or more) will do or just come to observe and share your feedback. The purpose of the event is to share new or work in progress and get constructive feedback from your peers. We are looking to provide an interactive experience where members can both give and receive feedback on work presented. Members or prospective members are encouraged to bring a print or small selection of prints to share with the group. This is a not a formal portfolio review, but a chance to receive some feedback from fellow members on your current work.
Who is the evening designed for?
Open to anyone with an interest in photography learning more about the Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts. Ideal for anyone interested in seeing new work and developing their vocabulary to provide constructive feedback when talking about photography and artwork in general
Wednesday, February 11th 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Join us in the gallery for our next scheduled in person Print Share & Peer Review session 6:30, February 11th.
Print Share & Peer Review Sessions are generally scheduled for 6:30, on the second Wednesday of the month.
Check the events section on our website for more information and updates on in person events.
Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts (RICPA) riphotocenter.org
118 North Main Street, 2nd Floor, Providence RI 02903 401-400-2542
Past Exhibitions Live On…
The Exhibition may have ended… but the exhibition lives on online.
Once a gallery presentation ends, our exhibitions remain available online… The original exhibition links remain active and our past exhibitions can found under Exhibitions> Past or order your own copy of select exhibition catalogs here
Exhibition catalogs are a new program launched in 2023 and are available for most of our exhibitions. Catalogs are available in the gallery in limited quantities and links to order can be found on the respective exhibition pages and collected here to be ordered for home delivery
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 time of entry, member benefits begin immediately and run 365 days from your start date.
Individual Portfolio/Project Reviews:
Individual feedback opportunities are available on an ongoing basis in four different formats for 2023. These review sessions can be used to preview new work, share ideas and explore future directions or projects in development. Appointments can be scheduled online for Zoom or in person sessions at www.riphotocenter.org/portfolio-reviews-and-consultations
Registration is open for our annual 20 minute individual Member review sessions.
We are also offering 45 minute one on one sessions open to the public via zoom or in person at the Gallery
New for 2022 we will also be offering “Lunch with the Director” for those interested in a more immersive conversations about your work and your goals. Lunch is included with these two hour more casual sessions. Questions can be directed to gallery@riphotocenter.org
Currently Available Online:
All of our exhibitions are available on the RICPA website, past exhibitions can be found here https://www.riphotocenter.org/category/exhibits/past
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