Voices of Diversity Come Together

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Light Work/Community Darkrooms was very pleased to supply working space and time in our labs in support of Lida Suchy’s long-term project Voices of Diversity. Lida photographed over 100 members of the Syracuse Community Choir, an organization dedicated to fostering social inclusiveness. After shooting the portraits with her 8 x 10 camera, Lida first made contact prints in our black-and-white lab. She then scanned those prints and utilized the tools in our digital lab to output the images in different formats, from large-scale grids to single portraits.

Like the choir it celebrates, Lida’s work in the labs was inclusive, attracting the participation of several Syracuse University students as well as choir and community members. Many years in the making, the exhibition is a true celebration of Syracuse and its people.

Voice of Diversity
ArtRage, The Norton Putter Gallery
505 Hawley Avenue, Syracuse
January 15 – February 14, 2009
Gallery Hours: Wednesday through Friday, 2-7pm, Saturday, 12-4pm

Congratulations to 2009 Artists-in-Residence

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We received a record number of applications this year—close to 400. Thanks to all who submitted materials and showed patience throughout the process.

We’re very pleased to have the following artists-in-residence in 2009:

Yolando del Amo (August)
Meggan Gould (May)
Leslie Hewitt (July)
Priya Kambli (December)
Dean Kessman (July)
Doug Manchee (June)
Rachelle Mozman (May)
Demetrius Oliver (April)
Eileen Perrier (August)
Shawn Records (November)
Chad States (June)

We do have a couple of residencies still open for the year, and we will review materials again in April 2009. Click here to find out how to apply.

Image: Leslie Hewitt, Riffs on Real Time (1 of 10), 2002-2005

Light Work AIR Hank Willis Thomas at Jack Shainman Gallery

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Light Work AIR Hank Willis Thomas is opening his second solo exhibition at the Jack Shainman Gallery. The exhibit, Pitch Blackness, follows the publication of his first monograph, of the same name, by the Aperture Foundation this past fall, and his significant presence in the “30 Americans” exhibition at The Rubell Family Collection in December.

Employing polished materials typical of monuments and signage used to build corporate identity Thomas presents a range of work from large-scale sculpture in painted aluminum, neon, Plexiglas, and granite, to hand painted, stenciled works on canvas, wood carvings, and manipulated photo-based works. Together the works trace black history through visual culture in an attempt to dissect, reinterpret, and re-imagine iconic moments from the “black past” and to investigate the complexity and absurdity of race in America in the 21st century.

The exhibit is on view from February 12 until March 13.

Jack Shainman Gallery
513 W. 20th St.
New York, NY

Celebrating Light Work Artists

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In its thirty-five years of artist support, Light Work has had the privilege to work with some pretty fabulous artists. Most of them were emerging or underrepresented when they came through our doors, and many of them have gone on to become household names in the arts (think Cindy Sherman, Renee Cox, and so forth). What we like best is for artists to come through our residency or exhibition program and go on to do great things, and we like it when other people notice them.

Here are just a few recent accomplishments: Light Work exhibition Ollin Mecatl: The Measure of Movements by Don Gregorio Antón (AIR 2006) was selected as one of the top best exhibitions in Syracuse in 2008 (Post Standard newspaper). The Griffin Museum of Photography in Winchester, MA is currently featuring Pull of Gravity, an exhibition with Emmet Gowin (LW Grant 1977)  and Elijah Gowin (AIR 1998). The Kehler Liddell Gallery in New Haven, CT is featuring the exhibition Suite Niagara by Keith Johnson (AIR 2005). The Jenkins Johnson Gallery in San Francisco and New York City is opening the exhibition Connections in early February, featuring among others Gerald Cyrus (AIR 1995), Deborah Jack (AIR 2003), Sonya Lawyer (AIR 2007), Gordon Parks (LW exh 1995), Hank Willis Thomas (AIR 2005), Carrie Mae Weems (AIR 1988), and Carla Williams (AIR 1997). LACMA in Los Angeles held a video screening event for Suzanne Mejean (AIR 2007).

On the publishing front, Emmet and Elijah Gowin just published a beautiful book, Maggie, through Tin Roof Press. Aperture has published Hank Willis Thomas‘ book Pitch Black and is about to publish the monograph All the Days and Nights by Doug DuBois (LW Grant 2000 and 2005). The documentary film Born into Brothels by Zana Briski (AIR 1998) not only won her an Oscar but spilled into a breathtaking volume with the same title. KayLynn Deveney (AIR 2006) published her gentle book The Day-to-Day Life of Albert Hastings through Princeton Architectural Press. And not long ago Lisa Robinson (AIR 2006) published her book Snowbound through Kehrer Verlag.

Light Work has a rich history of supporting artists through exhibitions, our Artist-in-Residence program, the Light Work Grant, publications and our public access workspace, Community Darkrooms. Our long history was recently summarized in a chronology and artist index in the anniversary issue of The Light Work Annual, CS147.

If you are a Light Work artist, please let us know about your recent achievements. Send us an update to blog@lightwork.org. We’d love to sing your praises and celebrate your exhibitions.

Image: Sonya Lawyer, Ivory M094

Rita Hammond's Gift to Remember

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Light Work’s friendship with Rita Hammond spanned many decades, so when we were gifted a substantial number of prints and 3-D collages from her, we were honored. It is only now that we can share this work as generously as we had always hoped, by making all of the nearly 900 pieces available for viewing through our online collection.

Rita was a prolific worker, whose commitment to her work inspired others to equally lend their support. Over the years, many people have come together to make sure that Rita is not forgotten. Most notably, Julie Grossman, Ann M. Ryan, and Kim Waale edited the book A Due Voci: The Photography of Rita Hammond in 2003; and Gina Murtagh edited the book Images of a Girl. Images of a Woman in 2008. Both monographs were published by Syracuse Press. Much more of Rita’s work remains largely unexplored, yet is now available for those who are looking. Rita was a woman of quick witted humor. It is all too easy to imagine her beckoning with a glass of wine and inviting us to dig in.

Image: Untitled (with drawn arm), from the series Self-Portraits

Light Work Artist-in-Residence Opens New Exhibition

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Light Work AIR Oscar Palacio opened his solo show, Re-represented, at FP3 in Boston on January 23. The show, which features large-scale prints made during his residency, documents locations, such as Gettysburg National Military Park and Underground Railroad sites around Syracuse, that refer to race relations in America’s past.

Opening only three days after the historic inauguration of our first African American president, Oscar’s exhibition could not have been better timed as a poignant and powerful reminder of where we have come from as we enter a new era.

Having seen the prints as they rolled off the printer in the Darkrooms, it’s certain that Oscar’s decision to print these images large (some in the 40 x 60″ range) really adds to the solemn beauty of the sites. If you’re in the Boston area between now and April 25, 2009, a visit to this show promises a rich experience.

Re-represented
FP3
New work by Boston-based photographer Oscar Palacio
346 Congress Street, (Fort Point) Boston, MA
Gallery Hours: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 12-7pm; Saturday, 12-4pm

We're kicking off 2009 with new workshops!

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Light Work / Community Darkrooms is proud to offer all new workshops for Spring 2009. Check out our new offerings at Community Darkrooms.com where you can both register and pay online.

Happy New Year!

The Light Work Blog has launched

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Stay tuned for current news, announcements and much more with our new blog.