S.I.'s FIRST PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERY OPENS ON THE NORTH SHORE

Alfred Stieglitz: A Portrait (2), 1918

MEMBER'S FORMER STUDIO
BECOMES NEW GALLERY FOR
CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHERS GUILD

In 1950s Greenwich Village, where I grew up, the status of photography as art was a subject of serious debate.

One would have thought that, even then, those arguments had already been settled by the work of photographic practitioners like Henri Cartier-Bresson, Paul Strand, Berenice Abbott, Alfred Stieglitz [whose "A Portrait (2)" of 1918 is shown above] and others. Today those arguments seem more antique than ever given the predominance of conceptual art.

And yet, except for large surveys and community art fairs, I can't recall a serious exhibition that successfully displayed drawn or painted images alongside photographic ones. In my experience, no matter how visually powerful or technically accomplished, photographs seldom seem able to quite stand up to the (wo)man-made images on the adjacent wall or in the adjacent room. At least to this eye.

Which is why I welcome the opening of the new CPG Gallery on Tysen Street in New Brighton, just south of Richmond Terrace and across the street from Snug Harbor's east wall. A cooperative gallery supported and run by members of the Creative Photographers Guild, it's devoted exclusively to photography and holds the potential to expand our awareness of the medium as both literal and reportorial as well as impressionistic and abstract.

More than 100 attended CPG's
opening show, "New Beginnings,"
on Saturday, March 21. The show
may be seen on weekends through
April 26. (Photo courtesy of CPG.)

NOT JUST ANOTHER CAMERA CLUB

Determined to transcend the limitations of the conventional camera club, The Creative Photographers Guild mission statement seems worded to confront the lingering ambivalence in some circles about the legitimacy of photography as art.

The language is simple and direct: " . . . to promote the understanding and appreciation of photography as a modern visual language and a legitimate art form" (italics added).

Photography as an art form was very much in evidence at the gallery's opening exhibit, "New Beginnings," which drew about 100 attendees. Though the opening event dwarfed the capacity of the single-room gallery--a CPG member's former studio--it's probably just the right size for the current weekend schedule. It's bright and spare--a wise aesthetic decision, given the limited space, that allows visitors to focus on the photos and only the photos.

CPG photographers represented in the "New Directions" show include Esther Aliotta, Miguel Angel, Richard Capuozzo, Connie Frisch-Cherniak, Flint Gennari, Robin George, Bob Haber, Stephen Joyce, Marilyn Kiss, Ken Martin, Len Rachlin, George Roos, Virginia Ross, Joe Verhey, Steven (Fritz) Weiss and Rich Xuereb.

MORE COMMUNITY
OUTREACH ENVISIONED

The Guild was established in 2005, became a not-for profit corporation in 2006, and is currently awaiting approval of its application for 501c3 tax-exempt status.

Such status will permit the Guild to apply for grants and to extend its existing outreach to and interaction with the community through a "Friends of" organization to support the gallery and other projects.

Building on an existing monthly photography workshop held at Eger Health Care Center, CPG members hope to develop additional programs for children, older adults and the disabled.

CPG membership is open to anyone with a serious interest in photography as well as a willingness to share in the opportunities, challenges and responsibilities of operating an exhibition space on an ongoing basis.

LOCATION, HOURS, INFORMATION: The Creative Photographers Guild (CPG) Gallery is located on the east side of Tysen Street, just south of Richmond Terrace (big red door on your left), New Brighton, S.I. Open Saturday and Sunday, 12 noon to 4 p.m. Information: 917-685-6736, 718-288-5608, or 718-981-6831.