Introducing the Providence Center for Photographic Arts (PCPA)

Do you love photography? Are you looking for a way to connect with other photographers? Do want to advance your skills? Exhibit your work? Get more involved in photo-based media. Become a member of PCPA! 

Background

Peter Miller Fine Art photography gallery opened in downtown Providence Rhode Island in March of 2015. The gallery’s focused mission on photography met an unfulfilled need in the local arts community. The gallery provides new opportunities for photographers to exhibit their work and further their careers as fine artists. It hosts workshops where professionals provide an educational experience to other professionals and serious hobbyists. The gallery also serves as a meeting place for local photography groups to connect on personal and professional levels. All exhibits, workshops, and events are open to the public.

After spending over two years planning, starting up, opening and operating the gallery — with very good acceptance and support within the community — I want to see its continued growth and success. Recently personal life changes and professional opportunities have occurred and I will be moving to California. To continue operation, I am transitioning the gallery to a collaborative non-profit organization, 501(c)3.

Founding trustees

Some dedicated individuals have joined me as founding board members to contribute their time and ideas to bring the Providence Center for Photographic Arts organization forward.

• David DeMelim is a Rhode Island based artist/photographer. David studied photography with Bart Paker and had a career in the commercial printing industry where he had a front row seat to the digital revolution that transformed both the print and photographic industries. David currently focuses on photography for publication and the production of artists books. His artistic work explores the expressive range of photography, constantly leveraging the advancing technology to push in new directions, blurring the lines between photography and printmaking.
• Ronald W. Dunbar, Jr. is an attorney with twenty-two years of experience and is admitted to practice in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Maine. Ron provides counsel to non-profit organizations in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Ron also is deeply passionate about the arts and, in addition to his commitment to PCPA, frequently provides feedback to independent film producers on numerous films that have been selected to premier at the Sundance Film Festival.  
• Rosemary Marchetta is a mixed-media artist working in drawing, painting, and photography. After receiving a BFA from the University of Kansas, she spent several years working in commercial darkrooms. She currently lives and works in Providence, RI. and has been a member of the Board of Directors at AS220, where she participates in the media arts program. Marchetta’s recent work combines multiple layers of digital images to create ‘constructed reality’ compositions.
• As a national and international award winning art director and photographer, Peter Miller has spent decades pushing the boundaries of visual expression and technical capabilities. Peter established his marketing communications business, Peter Miller Art & Design, LLC, in 1992 and has worked for major imaging companies including Agfa-Gevaert, Polaroid, and Kodak, promoting their international brands. Peter launched Peter Miller Fine Art Photography Gallery in 2014, then conceived, founded, and is the Chief Evangelist for the Providence Center for Photographic Arts.
• American artist Shari Weschler Rubeck (aka Sumo Bunni) is a figural narrative painter who exhibits nationally and internationally. Shari received her BFA from Maryland Institute of Art in painting and art history. She currently operates the Coastal Living Gallery in historic Wickford, RI and curates 12 exhibits each year. Her work is represented by Woodman Shimko, Carver Hill, Dacia & Retropect galleries and has been published in numerous online and print publications.
• Steve Szydlowski is an award-winning photojournalist for The Providence Journal. Steve has photographed local and regional stories for 29 years as staff photographer. Previously Steve worked as a freelance photographer for the Associated Press and The New London Day (New London, CT). Steve has also organized and curated the Providence Journal traveling photographic exhibit “Living Vision” an exhibition of photography that has been shown in Providence and Westerly, Rhode Island.
• Tim Tolman had a successful career as a Creative Director and adjunct faculty member at RISD. He worked for dozens of clients, including Fidelity, Corning, Brown University, URI, WQED PBS and The Food Network. He was an innovator in interactive technology and computer animation. Having immersed himself in composition, color, image, and message, Tim has made a smooth transition to fine art. Tim is now a full-time artist with a studio in Pawtucket, working on the deconstruction of photographic imagery in oil, mixed media collage and silkscreen. 

We are taking our first steps and want to include your ideas and feedback to move forward. Please contact me with any questions, comments, or suggestions.

Mission

The Providence Center for Photographic Arts was founded to inspire creative development and provides opportunities to engage with the community through exhibition, education, publication, and mutual support. Through the photo-based media, PCPA advances careers, stimulates dialogue, encourages inquiry and the communication of ideas.

Vision

PCPA supports the professional growth of its members by offering exhibitions, workshops, and mentorship programs. Members share a passion for creating, appreciating, and understanding all forms of photo-based media, providing a platform for artistic expression, and fostering a dialogue and innovation in the photographic arts.

Expanded programming and activities

The transition to a community-run organization has added more dedicated individuals to help expand the mission and programming for the organization. With the added participation we expect to reach a larger audience both in the local Providence area and far beyond. Our calendar of workshops, exhibits, and other activities will be available soon. All exhibits will continue to be free and open to the public. 

The gallery will continue with its established activities and expand to meet the needs our members and the photography community at large:

• The gallery will be open 12 months of the year with established hours of operation
• Continued membership of Gallery Night Providence (a free guided art tour event open to the public every 3rd Thursday from March through November)
• 2 jurored exhibits (submissions open to the public through CAFÉ — callforentry.org)
• 2 exhibiting member exhibits each year
• 12 individual photographer exhibits
• Spring and Fall photography workshops for professionals
• Continue to host monthly meetings for professional photography groups 
• Annual portfolio reviews for members
• And more programming currently in planning to be announced in the near future  

PCPA membership levels and benefits

Become a member of the Providence Center for Photographic Arts and join a community dedicated to sharing a love of photography! Grow your creativity and craft through workshops, increase your exposure, and collaborate with others to develop group and individual projects. Develop conversations about your work and gain insights and feedback through the support of fellow members. There are many opportunities to participate. PCPA accepts members from the local region and throughout the world.

Members of PCPA join a community of photo-based media artists. Our members’ work encompasses the full range of technique and expression of what is considered “photography” from traditional landscapes to non-representational mixed media. Their imagery may be portraits, street scenes, nudes, travel, documentary or abstract. Processes include digital, film, historical, montage, panoramic, composited, alternative, chemical, and experimental. At our events you commonly hear “I like it, but how did you do that?”. PCPA is a dialogue of inquiry and innovation, and the communication prednisone of ideas. Collaboratively we strive to advance our members careers, inspire creative development, and provide opportunities to engage with the community through exhibition, education, publication, and mutual support.

We are busy planning a new stimulating exhibit every month through 2017 and beyond, along with a series of informative workshops in the spring and fall. PCPA will also host a series of monthly informal meetings of local photography organizations. To deliver our programming we rely upon the generosity of our members. Your donations and membership dues enable us to procure new exhibits, fund educational programs and meet our operating costs. We appreciate your generosity.

PCPA is currently an all-volunteer effort. 100% of your fees go back into the organization’s programming and events. Members can volunteer to work with us on a variety of projects. Contact us to discuss your interests. Members can also volunteer to gallery-sit but it is not a requirement.

The PCPA gallery is about 1000 sq ft with two connected rooms, one slightly larger than the other. The layout is ideal for large (up to 70 piece) group exhibits or 2-person shows of 14 – 24 larger size pieces in each room.

There are three levels of membership, each designed to deliver a clear value for the annual subscription fee.

1) Individual members ($50 per year) receive a $50 discount on one workshop per year, listing on website, 20% discount on jurored exhibit entry fees, and annual portfolio review. Members are invited to attend monthly Member Salons, on the 2nd Wednesday evening of each month. Salons are informal gatherings to debate specific topics, present projects, review current work, and maybe tell tall tales over BYO refreshments. PCPA boosts individual members to the greater community through periodic social media posts.

2) Exhibiting members ($150 per year) are admitted through review by the membership committee of your portfolio, CV, and artist statement (or a link to your website with that information). Exhibiting members receive all the benefits of Individual Members above, plus: exhibit their work in twice-yearly members’ group shows, $150 discount on one workshop per year, 20% discount on other workshops & lectures, and a 20% discount on retail items. Exhibiting members are listed on our website tadalafil with images and links to your website. You can sell prints via e-Commerce, and books, greeting cards or other photo-related items (some limits on size) in the retail area. PCPA boosts exhibiting members to the greater community through periodic social media posts. Commission on sales is 40%.

3) Supporting Exhibiting members ($300 per year) receive all the benefits of Individual and Exhibiting Members above, plus: a featured listing and prominent acknowledgment on our website with images and links to your website. We will work with you to develop and publish frequent social media posts. Commission on sales is 20%.

The dollar and percentage discounts on workshops cannot be combined on a single workshop.

Exhibiting members ($150 per year) are admitted through review by the membership committee. Submit a portfolio of work, CV, and artist statement (or a link to your website with that information).