CHICAGO, CBS – Chicago’s visual artists may already be familiar with the nonprofit organization LATITUDE Chicago.
The West Town lab houses an accessible digital photo processing, and development laboratory.
The organization celebrated its 10th anniversary in March. To celebrate, they’re hosting a photography exhibition at the Chicago Art Department, curated by Associate Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Photography, Asha Iman Veal.
Veal said, “Participating in that role does not only involve doing shows or exhibitions at my own institution but also at places around the City as a guest.”
“I know” [Asha] Through the School of the Art Institute and Museum of Contemporary Photography connections. Latitude was founded with a lot photographic roots. So it made sense for us to work with a curator also with photographic roots,” Colleen Kehrm, Executive Director at LATITUDE Chicago.
Latitude has been helping professionals, students and hobbyists scan and print their work for the past ten years. Because of the accessibility to their space and resources, Latitude has been a central part of Chicago’s photography scene.
“You can visit the Adobe office, pay the membership fee, and sit at a desk. Then, you can use the Adobe products. Scan film or family documents using the scanners. We also have printers and documentation for artworks. Donations are what give us the space that you see. Keihm stated that a lot the technology is donated by local schools.
“A lot the technology here is too expensive.” Keihm stated that by having the technology donated and having someone who can fix it and share their knowledge, we have been able build over the past ten years.”
Latitude community was the focus of the anniversary show. Veal said she wanted to capture the spirit of everyone who makes Latitude a special haven for artists of all abilities.
“Do you know people who have been in the game for thirty years, five to ten years maybe? And they all use the facilities as part of the community?” Guggenheim Award winners are now common. Veal said that there are people who shoot for Vogue magazine alongside those who have just graduated from undergrad or grad schools, and everyone in between.”
“I think that exhibitions and curatorial projects can always be changed, but this project was about LATITUDE. So it was less about thematic show and more about showing off the community. It helps people see that LATITUDE is not just one city, but the entire community. And hopefully, we can sort of do that through how the works are arranged.” Veal stated.
“It could be someone who is just starting out in their career and not necessarily thinking of it as a job, but as a passion. It can also include people who are already making it in the industry. And I think that’s a microcosm of what LATITUDE does we want to make sure the tools are accessible to anybody who’s interested in making images, not only photography but graphic design– really anything,” said Keihm.
You don’t need to be a professional photographer to come to our event. Keihm said that we are open to any questions.
“I think it can make a lot of sense that artists are often self-motivated. It is not necessary to go to a place that has all the resources. You must search for them. Veal stated that LATITUDE provides the space not only in terms of equipment but also for people.”
The installation will remain up until December 8th. For more information, visit the Chicago Art Department website.