Walking into the newly renovated photography darkroom and computer digital lab, one gets the feeling that something creative and magical is going on at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. In the afternoons, children stand on stools over the darkroom’s large sinks, hovering around photography chair and instructor Bruce McKaig, excited to see their pictures coming to life in the chemicals. In the next classroom, students are manipulating pictures of themselves and developing projects including digital animation shorts, posters, and more. In the evenings, adults patiently learn to develop their negatives for printing, tone their photographs, or download pictures from their digital cameras for the first time.

After a year and a half wait, the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop has unveiled its new and improved photography darkroom and digital computer lab in their building at 545 7th St., SE. Hoping to become a neighborhood center for photography and digital design, the Arts Workshop is offering everything from one-day workshops on how to use your digital camera to longer and more advanced sessions in their newly expanded darkroom.
 
Those familiar with the Arts Workshop’s old darkroom probably remember a fairly cramped but serviceable space serving no more than four students at a time. The new darkroom, complete with an additional sink and updated equipment, comfortably accommodates seven students and offers new safety equipment, and a state-of-the-art ventilation system. A separate space has been created for film processing.
 
In addition to its slate of photography classes, the Arts Workshop also hosts one of the only community darkrooms in the city. People with previous darkroom experience can sign-up to use the facilities on weekdays during the day and on Saturdays. Call the Arts Workshop at 202-547-6839 to set up an orientation time and to register.

The Arts Workshop’s new Digital Arts Center includes seven iMac computers loaded with programs like Photoshop and Illustrator along with a high-end photo printer and scanner. Here students young and old are taking classes including “Introduction to Digital Photography” and “Digital Arts Projects.”
 
“The Arts Workshop belongs to the whole community. We’re ecstatic to have the opportunity to share this new facility with adults and young people who are interested in all forms of photography,” said Jonathan Darr, the Arts Workshop’s Director. “We look forward to the photographers in the area finding us and building a community around the visual image in a new and exciting way.”
 
The renovations and upgrades became possible after the Arts Workshop received much-needed federal appropriation funds and additional support from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Many volunteers and Hill residents helped make the project a reality with drawings donated by Architrave PC Architects led by Robert Weinstein and major assistance with the planning and building work by Photography Chair Bruce McKaig and Arts Workshop Board Member and architect Steve Lawlor.

The Arts Workshop is currently registering adult students for an eight-week summer session of classes in its newly renovated space including Introduction to Black and White Photography, Continuing Black and White Photography, Introduction to Digital Photography, Introduction to Graphic Design, Introduction to Photoshop, and Introduction to Web Design. Students ages seven to twelve can participate in the Art Workshop’s Photography Camp taking place July 3 through July 14, 2006. For more information, please visit www.chaw.org or call (202) 547-6839.

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Possible Break-out Box 

Capitol Hill Arts Workshop’s Community Open Darkroom

People interested in participating in open darkroom must first call the workshop at (202) 547-6839 to set-up an orientation meeting with a member of the photography department.

Open Darkroom Hours:

• Monday – Friday - 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
• Saturday - 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

* Hours subject to change. Please call 202-547-6839 to confirm darkroom hours.

What is Available: Complete set-up for black and white printing: 7 enlarger stations (Formats: 35mm, medium format, 4x5) Film processing room (35mm, medium format, 4x5). Standard processing chemicals, plus some toners provided. Classroom includes a light table, drying screens, spotting supplies, and a mat cutter

Cost: A fee of $40 per semester and $6.00 per hour. Chemicals provided, participants must supply their own paper.