Help Save My Darkroom (NYC)
Donation protected
Please, help save my darkroom
Hello, my name is Kimberly Schneider and I am a fine art photographer and dedicated gelatin silver printer. Printing by hand is an essential part of my process, and I really need your help to be able to resume printing, as I recently lost my darkroom, due to finanacial hardships.
My first time in a proper darkroom was back in 1999; it was love at first smell, and I’ve been a die-hard silver printer ever since. I received my BFA in Photography (and minor in Philosophy), in 2002.
For the past 6 years, I've had a fully functioning darkroom in my converted 2-bedroom apartment (technically a 1-bedroom with a unique layout); that said, my rent increased so much over that time, that I simply could not afford to renew or even commit to another lease (at a cheaper place) when my lease expired.
Since New York is one of the few places where I can find printing work, as well as an alternate place to print, I put the darkroom into short-term storage and committed to a sublet until late September - to buy myself a little more time to find stable work/a day job (which has been challenging, due to my art/photo background), more clients, and hopefully gain more funding.
If I don't have a commitent for enough guaranteed work to keep me here by mid September, I will be out of options. Basically, I would be forced to leave New York to go stay with family, in a location where printing elsewhere is not a realistic option.
I exhibit my work often, and have gallery representation, as well as printing clients, so losing my darkroom would come at a great cost.
While I am doing everything in my power to line up more work, I am starting out with nothing in terms of savings and have to start saving up fast; thus, I really need your help to ensure my ability to keep printing beyond that time.
If I have to leave New York, I could go months, perhaps years without a guaranteed place to print, as I wouldn't be able to set up again until I could save up enough money to afford a 2-bedroom apartment (most likely in a larger city than where my family is based), as well as the cost of building a new darkroom.
While It would kill me to leave again, I am looking for work in other cities as well, so will go where I have to - as long as I have a way to keep printing.
Thus, If enough of you can help me start saving up for a sufficient deposit, while I try to line up more work, I could commit to another year in New York (or worst case move to another city), and start the process of setting up a new darkroom from scratch, in a reasonable amount of time.
To be honest, I had to leave New York once before, and my artwork truly suffered as a result. I have been back since 2006, and will do everything possible to avoid being in this position when my sublet ends, but given the difficult economy, I really could use all the help I can get.
Thank you in advance for your consideration - I am truly grateful for your support!
Please visit my website for info about current and upcoming exhibitions, press, awards, and more: http://www.kimberlyjschneider.com
Hello, my name is Kimberly Schneider and I am a fine art photographer and dedicated gelatin silver printer. Printing by hand is an essential part of my process, and I really need your help to be able to resume printing, as I recently lost my darkroom, due to finanacial hardships.
My first time in a proper darkroom was back in 1999; it was love at first smell, and I’ve been a die-hard silver printer ever since. I received my BFA in Photography (and minor in Philosophy), in 2002.
For the past 6 years, I've had a fully functioning darkroom in my converted 2-bedroom apartment (technically a 1-bedroom with a unique layout); that said, my rent increased so much over that time, that I simply could not afford to renew or even commit to another lease (at a cheaper place) when my lease expired.
Since New York is one of the few places where I can find printing work, as well as an alternate place to print, I put the darkroom into short-term storage and committed to a sublet until late September - to buy myself a little more time to find stable work/a day job (which has been challenging, due to my art/photo background), more clients, and hopefully gain more funding.
If I don't have a commitent for enough guaranteed work to keep me here by mid September, I will be out of options. Basically, I would be forced to leave New York to go stay with family, in a location where printing elsewhere is not a realistic option.
I exhibit my work often, and have gallery representation, as well as printing clients, so losing my darkroom would come at a great cost.
While I am doing everything in my power to line up more work, I am starting out with nothing in terms of savings and have to start saving up fast; thus, I really need your help to ensure my ability to keep printing beyond that time.
If I have to leave New York, I could go months, perhaps years without a guaranteed place to print, as I wouldn't be able to set up again until I could save up enough money to afford a 2-bedroom apartment (most likely in a larger city than where my family is based), as well as the cost of building a new darkroom.
While It would kill me to leave again, I am looking for work in other cities as well, so will go where I have to - as long as I have a way to keep printing.
Thus, If enough of you can help me start saving up for a sufficient deposit, while I try to line up more work, I could commit to another year in New York (or worst case move to another city), and start the process of setting up a new darkroom from scratch, in a reasonable amount of time.
To be honest, I had to leave New York once before, and my artwork truly suffered as a result. I have been back since 2006, and will do everything possible to avoid being in this position when my sublet ends, but given the difficult economy, I really could use all the help I can get.
Thank you in advance for your consideration - I am truly grateful for your support!
Please visit my website for info about current and upcoming exhibitions, press, awards, and more: http://www.kimberlyjschneider.com
Organizer
Kimberly Schneider
Organizer
New York, NY