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 lab.
In March, the organization turned ten years old. 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 stated, “Part of that job not only involves doing shows and exhibitions in my home institution, but also at other places around the city as guests.”
“I know” [Asha] Through the School of the Art Institute and Museum of Contemporary Photography connections. Latitude was established with many photographic roots. It made sense to collaborate with a curator with photographic roots,” stated Colleen Keihm (Executive Director of LATITUDE Chicago).
Latitude has been providing services to students, hobbyists, and professionals for over a decade. By the ease with which their resources and space are available, the studio has become a focal point in Chicago’s photography scene
You can pay the membership fee and then sit down at a desk to use Adobe products. Scan film or family documents using the scanners. The scanners can also be used to scan film or family archives. We also have documentation for artworks and printers. The space you see is actually donated to us. 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 was the inspiration for the anniversary show. Veal states that she tried to capture the spirit and creativity of everyone who makes Latitude a special haven for artists from all levels.
“Do you know people that have been in the game 30 years or less? If so, they are all there to use the facilities and be a part of the community. Guggenheim Award recipients are also available. Veal stated that you have people who are working for Vogue magazine alongside people who are coming out of undergrad, grad school, or somewhere in between.”
“I think that exhibitions and curatorial projects can always be changed, but this project was about LATITUDE. So it was less about the thematic and more about showing off the community. “So it helps people understand that LATITUDE, the community, isn’t just one place. It’s actually the whole city that they’re reaching, and hopefully, that can be done through the arrangement and the works,” Veal said.
It could be someone starting out in their career and not seeing it as a job, but as a passion. This 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 an expert photographer to be at the event. Keihm said that we are open to any questions.
“I think it can make a lot of sense that artists are often self-propelled. You don’t always have all the resources available. They have to be sought out. Veal stated that LATITUDE provides the space not only in terms of equipment but also for people.”
The installation will be on display until December 8. For information about their hours and other community events, you can visit Chicago Art Department’s website.