END OF 2023
December 5th, 2023
Dear Friends of Photoworks:
We hope this letter finds you well! As we near the end of 2023, we’re excited to share some noteworthy updates and accomplishments from Photoworks over the past year.
Revitalized Leadership: Photoworks has undergone significant changes to set the stage for a promising future. We’ve expanded our board, welcoming Scott Davis, Sebastian Hesse-Kastien, Donnamaria Jones, Chip Kahn, and Carolina Zumaran-Jones, each bringing fresh perspectives and invaluable expertise.
Artist in Residence: In January, 2023, Redeat Wondemu became our first Artist in Residence, contributing to our vibrant artistic community. Red concluded her residency with a solo exhibition, “In Syzygy,” featuring an impressive collection of platinum, silver, and cyanotype handmade prints. We’re excited to continue this program in 2024.
Expanded Offerings: Adding to our robust black & white and digital programs, our alternative process program has thrived with the Handmade Photo Group, a rapidly growing community. Their second annual group exhibition, “Timeless 2023,” is currently on display in our gallery.
Thanks to a generous donation, we now have a freestanding printing/scanning workstation in the main classroom. Community members can now produce large scale digital prints and also scan negatives up to 8x10 inches.
Partnerships: Our collaborations continue to expand our reach beyond the Park. In October, Photoworks co-sponsored the first-ever alternative process/large format photography conference Foto Inter/Cambio, in Mexico City, with attendees from across the US and Mexico, including Photoworks community members.
Locally we partnered with schools like Montgomery College, Holton-Arms School, Gonzaga College High School, and the Arlington Career Center in hands-on photo activities. Additionally, students from The Siena School and Holton-Arms School showcased their work in our inaugural high school student exhibition, “The Mind’s Eye.” Looking ahead, five high schools have committed to participating in the upcoming 2024 exhibition “So It Goes.”
Events: Our calendar has been filled with thought-provoking lectures, engaging discussions, and hands-on workshops celebrating diverse artists and their stories. Highlights include a ‘movie night’ featuring Gordon Parks’ photography, an insightful artist talk and demonstration by street photographer, Messay Shoakena, and a presentation by photojournalist Marvin Tupper Jones delving into the 400-year history of the land-owning tri-racial people of the Winton Triangle, a region in North Carolina.
Additionally, we’ve hosted a book talk with Sandy Sugawara and Catiana Garcia-Kilroy, who shared insights into their latest project, “Show Me the Way to Go to Home.” Our lineup also featured a lecture by Monica Pedynowski, a Polish-American photojournalist, who explored the lives of Ukrainian refugees in Poland,
As we reflect on the challenges and triumphs of the past year, we extend sincere gratitude to our supporters and partners for their unwavering dedication and belief in our mission. We invite your financial support through year-end donations to help expand our course offerings and programs, grow our faculty, stay technically strong in an ever-changing digital world, and further exhibit the work of deserving artists. Your support makes a very real difference. Contributions received before December 31, 2023 will be matched up to $7,000 by the Photoworks Board.
Please enjoy this “2023-Year in Review” video created by our Marketing Director, Sophie McDowell.
Thank you for your steadfast support, and we look forward to seeing you in the new year!
Warmest regards,
The Photoworks Board
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