The next year brings excellent news for photographers and photography aficionados: the Center for Photography at Woodstock (CPW) now has a newly renovated facility in New York dedicated to photography and visual arts. In a grand opening of the new space, CPW invites you to witness new exhibitions that reflect on the non-profit’s origins and highlight the social and cultural pressure we face today. Scroll down to know more.
The lead image is by Colleen Kenyon. All images are courtesy of the artists and CPW. Used with permission.
Exciting Showcase You Shouldn’t Miss
Before we get into details about the facility, let us share a little more about the diverse works presented at the opening:
- Mary Ellen Mark: At the new CPW building, you will be welcomed to witness Mark’s iconic series, Ward 81. Created in 1976, the project documents the lives of women in a psychiatric ward while illustrating the photographer’s well-known, empathetic, and unflinching approach to complex narratives. The exhibition has been curated by Gaëlle Morel and Kaitlin Booher and will be presented alongside the photo book made on the series, as well as Moonlight Heaven Black, a short film by Mark’s husband, Martin Bell. Overall, this showcase offers a poignant look at individuals in the psychiatric institution who have been forgotten by society.
- Colleen Kenyon and Kathleen Kenyon: The Kenyon sisters have been co-directing CPW for 25 years, and the grand opening is the perfect platform to showcase their prominent series, My Sister, My Self. This series features hand-colored images, colleagues, and collaborative projects that showcase the sisters’ shared identity as twins. However, they also speak about the impact of their thoughts and ideas on the world of photography.
- Keisha Scarville: Winner of the inaugural Saltzman Prize, Scarville’s project examines diaspora, loss, identity, and belonging. She uses images and textiles to weave a narrative that is both personal and focuses on the cultural aspect of society. By focusing on her late mother’s clothes, she highlights concepts of memory and the shifting nature of identity. The exhibition is also accompanied by a limited-run artist book.
- Free, For All: The last exhibit will showcase photographs submitted through an open call to give local artists an opportunity to shine. This display will be presented at the new Community Gallery, which aims to foster creativity within the community.
CPW’s New Building in Kingston
This is a great milestone for the arts organization, which is now 47 years old. The state-of-the-art center has been designed in such a way that it benefits visual arts and artists. The first two floors of the 40,000-square-foot building have been transformed into 6,000 square feet of exhibition space. This is also the first phase of a broader transformation. In addition, the CPW building includes an expanded Digital Media Lab, a theater, workshop areas, offices, meeting rooms, and a photo library. Through this space, the organization hopes to help the careers of both established and emerging artists.
The project has already received over $2 million in New York State funding and has garnered support from several prestigious organizations, including Restore NY and the New York State Council on the Arts. With such support, CPW is poised to become a platform for educating the audience, harboring the community, and even a cornerstone for contemporary photography and visual arts.
The first three exhibitions will be displayed from January 18 to May 4, 2025. Free, For All will run until February 16. For more information, visit CPW’s website.
