The Paul Krot Community Darkroom at AS220 and the Providence Public Library are proud to present a public exhibition of photographic prints made from rare glass negatives found in the library’s Special Collections Department. The exhibition, funded by a grant from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, will bring iconic images of local life at the turn of the 20th century to the public for the first time in their existence. These negatives represent both the evolution of the photographic process over the last 100 years, but also a significant portion of local and regional history. Most of these images, which have been cataloged, digitized and stored in archival envelopes and boxes, date from 1890-1940, and typically had never been enlarged in a darkroom. Many have never been printed or shown to the public before now. As the only publicly accessible black and white darkroom in Rhode Island, the darkroom at AS220 is the only facility still able to process these unique source materials and will show a collection of 30 prints at the City Hall Gallery through the month of October.
Support from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities has also made it possible for AS220 staff and volunteers to create a permanent, virtual database of all 1,200 images in the glass negative collection, which will allow viewers to browse and purchase prints online, with all proceeds going to support the Providence Public Library Special Collections and the public access photo program at the Paul Krot Community Darkroom. Please join us in celebrating the rediscovery of this very special collection of photographs on October 4th from 5pm to 7pm. Prints will be available for purchase during the length of the exhibition. For more information visit the Glass Negative Project.
Reception Providence City Hall, Monday, October 4, 5pm to 7pm/Exhibit runs through October