Located in Chicago’s West Humboldt Park neighborhood, Working Image at 3036 W. Chicago Ave. is a teaching workshop space in the making; dedicated to experimental arts education and is also a home base for multiple working art collectives and collaborators. Working Image (working name) started up in May and is in process. At its heart is a 16mm filmmaking and multi-gauge film photography lab and teaching program.
Working Image is actively interested in collaboration, this is not a commercial film lab, as there are many of those in Chicago that we support but we are something different. This space is about learning how to work with your materials yourself, offering access to the space through scheduling lab hours, and scheduling courses that will transform your art practices and help sustain them.
In its essence, Working Image is an art school. Working Image is dedicated to experimental art and our classes can act as a starting out point for new artists and beginners as well as being a challenging discussion space for those who have been practicing throughout their lifetimes, offering critique, lectures, and gatherings to workout complex art practice questions. We will offer advanced workshops and classes as well as 1 to 1 education opportunities.
The facility is not limited to photography and motion image facilities, there is also a bathtub that can be used for dying and washing vats and a spray booth for print making. There is a full working kitchen that can be used for meals during events, art focused cooking classes, mutual aid, or small catering rentals. We also have two small portable PA systems, or it can be combined into one for larger off site events.
Classes and lab time will be offered during the day, both during the work week and the weekends with occasional evening workshops and events that will end at reasonable times.
Be on the lookout for updates on this page!
How you can help?
In order to continue moving toward this goal we are looking for a licensed General Contractor/Architect Firm that works with small creative projects in leased spaces. We also need a licensed plumber familiar with darkrooms. Darkroom experiences is not necessary but would be helpful.
We are actively seeking monetary donations (please feel free to reach out through the contact form on this site). We are looking for the following, either donation or affordable options:
5-7 cubic foot chest freezer
100 foot Metal Daylight Spools and plastic 16mm film boxes (much needed!)
Bolex Rex 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 donations or affordable options (we need 4 more)
Bolex Rex Lenses, zoom and prime lenses, and accessories like Matte Boxes, and more.
Canon AE-1 35mm SLR’s and Lenses
Photography light meters, enough for each teaching camera (at least 5)
Soft boxes and lighting equipment
Wall mounted backdrop stand
Core adapter and support arm for Moviola film rewinds
Darkroom accessories, timers, trays
16mm and 35mm film donations, black and white is what we need the most.