R.I. photography gets new downtown showcase

The nonprofit collaborative Providence Center for Photographic Arts will show the work of area photographers and help nurture new talent.

Andy Smith Journal Arts Writer asmith651

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — There's a photo exhibit opening Thursday, called "New Year, New Beginning" at the new Providence Center for Photographic Arts on North Main Street, which is also an apt description for the center itself.

What was once the Peter Miller Fine Art Photography Gallery has become a nonprofit collaborative, with plans to function not only as a gallery, but as a resource for photographers in the state, with workshops and lectures as well as exhibits.

Miller, who moved to Rhode Island from Boston in 1997, started planning the gallery in 2014 and opened it in 2015. In 2016, between family health issues and his wife's new job in California, Miller found it difficult to keep operating the gallery on his own. And now he is relocating to California.

But, he said, he didn't want to simply close the gallery doors, and after talking to lots of photographers in the area, he came up with the idea of forming a nonprofit membership organization.

For the opening exhibit, each of the eight founding members of the Providence Center for Photographic Arts has invited five other area photographers to contribute work. (Providence Journal photographer Steve Szydlowski is one of the founders.)

David DeMelim, a Rhode Island photographer and artist who functions as acting director for the center, said the idea behind the opening exhibit is to mark the transition of the gallery.  By asking the founding members to invite five additional photographers to contribute, he said, the exhibit will showcase the diversity of photography in the area.

"The concept is to provide a diverse and open view of all the things photography can be," he said. "We have included some very well-established photographers, along with some who might not be as well known."

Most of the contributors are from Rhode Island, he said, with a few from surrounding states. Beyond that, DeMelim said, there's no particular theme, style, or subject to define the show.

"It's meant to be eclectic," he said. "We just asked [contributors] to send us the work they're most excited about today."

DeMelim said the center now has about 48 members. (Memberships are $50, $150 and $300).  "We've had a tremendous response in just a few weeks," he said. "There's no shortage of interest and support for a photography center in Rhode Island."

He said the center plans open houses and workshops for all levels of photographers, as well as more specialized sessions. Coming up April 22-23, for example, will be a workshop on The Art and Technique of Infrared Photography with Laurie and Kyle Klein.

— asmith@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7485

On Twitter: @asmith651 

IF YOU GO

What: "New Year, New Beginning"

Where: Providence Center for Photographic Arts, 118 N. Main St., Providence, second floor.

When: Opening reception is 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday. Exhibit runs until Feb. 11, 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Information: petermillerfineart.com

Source: R.I. photography gets new downtown showcase