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Upcoming Photography Classes & Workshops
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Craft Your Artist Statement with Ben Hickey
Price range: $50.00 through $75.00A 2-Day Class
Thursday, October 30th and November 13th6:00pm – 9:00pm
Ages 18+A Photography Class for Ages 18+
Spend two evenings creating an artist statement with Ben Hickey, Executive Director of CEPA and seasoned curator. With years of experience reviewing countless artist submissions, Ben knows what curators and galleries are looking for—and he’ll guide you through the process of shaping a statement that truly elevates your practice.
In this hands-on workshop, Ben will share insider knowledge and lead an interactive discussion on best practices, followed by focused writing exercises, group evaluation, and editorial feedback. You’ll walk away with a polished, professional statement that captures both your work and your voice.
• Session 1: Discussion of effective artist statements + strategies for framing your practice.
• Between sessions: Two weeks to draft your statement at home.
• Session 2: Review, refine, and finalize your statement with Ben’s feedback.By the end, you’ll have a fully vetted artist statement that reflects your vision and stands up to professional scrutiny.
Pre-workshop preparation will include:
• A short reading.
• A brief survey.
• Sharing information about your work (social media, website, portfolio, CV, etc.).A full list of materials to bring or send will be provided in advance.
Workshop Location
CEPA Learning Center
Limited Availability
This class is limited to 8 participants.
Dates & Times
October 30th and November 13th
6:00pm – 9:00pmJoin CEPA Today and Save!
Membership starts as low as $40/year for individuals—and even lower for students at only $25/year!
Learn about CEPA Membership » -
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Photo Manipulation
Price range: $75.00 through $95.00A 1-Day Class
Friday, November 14th
6:00 – 8:30pm
Ages 13+A Photography Class for Ages 13+
During this class participants will have the opportunity to experiment with different photo manipulation techniques.
This class is divided into two parts. In the first half, participants will explore and experiment with gel plate printing, discovering creative techniques and unique textures. In the second half, participants will dive into the art of Polaroid lifts, learning how to create captivating and one-of-a-kind images.
Supplies are included.
Please call or email info@cepagallery.org if you have questions.
Workshop Location
CEPA Learning Center
Limited Availability
This class is limited to 8 participants.
Dates & Times
Friday, November 14th
6:00 – 8:30pmJoin CEPA Today and Save!
Membership starts as low as $40/year for individuals—and even lower for students at only $25/year!
Learn about CEPA Membership » -
This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Conceptual and Creative Portraiture
Price range: $100.00 through $120.00A 1-Day Class
Saturday, November 22nd
12:30pm–3:30pm
Ages 16+A 1-Day Photography Class for Ages 16+
Take your portraiture to the next level!
Creative and Conceptual Portrait Photography is an immersive, interactive course designed to transform how students approach and understand the intricacies of portrait photography. Diving deep into the technical aspects and artistic nuances, students will learn about the principles of various portrait photography styles, from traditional to contemporary, from studio work to outdoor settings.
This course emphasizes creativity and conceptuality, encouraging students to think outside the box and develop their unique photographic voices. Students will learn to identify and craft engaging themes and concepts for their portraits, draw inspiration from various sources, and execute their visions effectively. They will also have the exciting opportunity to put these new skills into practice during hands-on sessions with two professional models. This provides an invaluable chance for students to experiment with their images, receive real-time feedback, and refine their craft through experiential learning. By the end of the course, students will have expanded their technical knowledge and cultivated a refined artistic sensibility and a confident, innovative approach to portrait photography.
Learn to combine lighting, expression, posing, and use formal compositional elements to elevate your portraiture and imbue your images with meaning and intention. Students will have the opportunity to practice hands-on technique with two professional live models.
By the end of the lab session, you’ll understand a conceptual approach to portraiture and have a repertoire of fun and creative techniques to experiment with.
Class is taught by one of CEPA’s veteran instructors – Piotr Meszynski (see more about Peter below). Recommended for advanced students who are already familiar with studio lighting or have taken Piotr’s previous Studio Light Class. Purchase both classes and receive a 15% discount (will be refunded when your card is processed).
Location
CEPA Education Center
Date & Time
Saturday, November 22nd
12:30pm–3:30pmJoin CEPA Today and Save!
Membership starts as low as $40/year for individuals—and even lower for students at only $25/year!
Learn about CEPA Membership »Check out the description below to learn more about the teaching artist for this workshop.
Features from the CEPA Shop
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Ascension of Black Stillness (2021)
$25.00Ascension of Black Stillness, Black Existence and Exploration Through The Disruption of Still Photography
An Exhibition of Black Hope, Alternate Realities, and Parallel Universes Curated by Stacey Robinson
● Perfect bound : 93 pages full color
● ISBN: 978-1-939026-16-3
● Product Dimensions : 8.5 x 11 inches
● Publisher : CEPA Gallery 2021
● Language : English
● ISBN: 978-1-939026-05-7 -
The Power of Resilience and Hope – Photography & the Holocaust: Then and Now Catalog
$25.00CEPA Gallery publication from the exhibition for The Power of Resilience and Hope – Photography & the Holocaust: Then and Now.
The Power of Resilience and Hope – Photography & the Holocaust: Then and Now will feature 30 contemporary, regional, and international artists and writers whose works juxtapose and interact with archival material to create new imagery that delves into the complexities of time and space, place and memory, nature, and the devastation of civilized society. A 100+ page catalog accompanies the project.
The show aims to bridge growing divides that threaten our future with programming that inspires a cross-generational dialogue and creates a forum for artists and individuals of diverse lived experiences to come together and learn from one another with the intent of pushing back on hatred and racism. Community programming, public art, youth and adult workshops, discussion groups, and speakers will allow individuals to engage with the past as a way to inform the present and future. Community partners of the exhibition include the Holocaust Education Resource Organization (HERO), the Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo, UB’s Department of Jewish Thought, the Clean Air Coalition of Western New York, Mirabo Press, Western New York Book Arts Collaborative, and Journey’s End Refugee Services.
The exhibition has been in planning for many years, long before the current events began to unfold, and is intended to reject hate and promote understanding and empathy among all groups of people. With art’s ability to foster dialogue, CEPA is inviting the community to engage with the exhibition and reflect on the experiences of everyday individuals caught in the crossfire of hatred. CEPA and its partners stand against all forms of racism and violence.
● 122 page full-color catalogs
● Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 11 in.
● Publisher: CEPA Gallery (2024)
● Language: English
● ISBN: 978-0-939784-38-7
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This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
Odyssey | Warriors Come Home: Combat Veterans Photograph Life After War (2020)
Price range: $35.00 through $45.00Through photography, combat veterans explore their journey back from war. Thirty-seven veterans participated in The Odyssey Workshops, a year long collaborative photography project led by artist Brendan Bannon and Marine Scout/Sniper Julian Chinana. This book explores the endless journey home from war in images that reveal the veterans’ challenges and victories over circumstances.
Preview“There is anguish here, and joy, resilience, pain and courage, and experimentation of all sorts with form in the pursuit of discoveries that might make lives better, or at least more vividly real. Here we witness an odyssey of self-introspection, of battles fought and those still being fought. And they resonate.”
~Fred Ritchin, Dean Emeritus, International Center of Photography
“This is one of the great photo books about the experience of war, one like no other. Every contributor to Odyssey|Warriors Come Home has been there, on the ground. They all came back, bearing memories and deep feelings. These photographs tell us what words could not. They tell us what it was like to have been the warrior, the care-giver, and the person back home when there are no words to express what happened.”
~Bruce Jackson
SUNY Distinguished Professor & James Agee Professor of American Culture
Co-director, SUNY Buffalo Creative Arts Initiative● Soft bound : 176 pages full color
● ISBN 978-0-939784-35-6
● Product Dimensions : 10 x 9/16 x 8 inches
● Publisher : CEPA Gallery (December 2020)
● Language : English
Support CEPA
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Lab Card
$30.00Not sure what birthday or holiday gift to get for the photographer in your life?
We are now offering punch cards for 6 Hours of Digital or Darkroom Lab Time. Perfect for the darkroom aficionado without a darkroom, or someone looking for a place to print their own work. Save a few bucks off the hourly rate for non-members by buying several hours at a time.
Interested in Discounted Rates? Become a member today!
The Latest News from CEPA
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About CEPA
Located in Buffalo’s historic Market Arcade Complex, CEPA Gallery is a contemporary photography and visual arts center with impact in both local and national communities.
Originally incorporated as the Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Arts to serve as a community darkroom and exhibition space, CEPA Gallery was founded during the Alternative Space Movement in May 1974 by recent graduates of the University of Buffalo.
Support CEPA
Our funders are just one way CEPA is able to continue on this trajectory, meeting the needs of artists and our community with artistic and arts education programming of the highest international caliber and repute.
Learn more about how you can support CEPA and the arts in Western New York today.