PRESS RELEASE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HANNAH FRIESER TO LEAVE CPW
Kingston, NY — Hannah Frieser, the executive director of the Center for Photography at Woodstock, has announced plans to leave the photography nonprofit at the end of February, after over six years leading the organization. The CPW is set to open its new location in Midtown Kingston this Spring, with its first exhibition by acclaimed photographer Doug Menuez planned for April 30.
“It is hard to believe that it has been six years, last December,” Frieser muses. “And I have to say that we got a lot done in that time, including the revitalization of CPW’s galleries; facility upgrades to the darkroom and digital lab; major collaborations with other art organizations; and the launch of programs like our advanced memberships, the hugely successful Professional Practices Artist Network, and the memorable social justice symposium with Carrie Mae Weems. I am proud of the programs created, the friendships forged, the exhibitions presented.”
Frieser took the helm at CPW in 2015, becoming the organization’s fourth executive director. The first exhibitions she curated for CPW, a group show titled Welcome: Page by Page, and the solo show Richard Edelman: Stolen Portraits, opened in early 2016 to excellent reviews. “People commented that ’CPW was back’. So many people attended that evening that the crowd spilled out onto the porch — in February!”
Frieser went on to develop many more solo and group exhibitions, including the haunting site-specific installation Gesche Würfel: At the Hands of Persons Unknown, the introspective exhibition Re-membrance of the Remembrance by Hye-Ryoung Min, and the quiet celebration of life and aging in the group show Here Today.
“We are so grateful to Hannah for her tireless devotion to CPW these past six years,” said Clinton Cargill, Co-chair of the board of directors. “Hannah has made a lasting impact on CPW, far beyond the work displayed on the gallery’s walls. Hannah is a passionate nonprofit leader. She brought expertise that helped us think differently about our programming and modernize our internal systems. In many respects, she is leaving CPW in a strong position as we begin a new chapter in our new home in Kingston.”
In 2017, Frieser facilitated the purchase of a residential house with living and workspace for CPW’s residency program, WOODSTOCK AIR. After working closely with CPW’s board of directors, private foundations, and individual donors, including the family that owned the house on Glasco Turnpike, a three-day fundraiser raised the final funds needed to secure the building.
Frieser also steered CPW through the challenges of the pandemic, which forced countless cancellations and postponements of programs. “When the shutdown began, we still had part of our Members Show installed, and all of the contemplative work by Ruth Lauer-Manenti. The work served as an emotional reminder of the exuberant energy with which we began 2020, followed by such dramatic changes and collective heartache. Initiatives such as the fundraiser and online exhibition Spring Affair, curated by Ruben Natal-San Miguel, and the Virtual Handshake portfolio reviews, led by then Program Manager Jan Nagle, were created to connect to artists at a time of uncertainty.”
In 2020, a year that saw unprecedented protests for racial justice, Frieser saw a moment for CPW, with its long commitment to inclusivity, to lead the dialogue around art and social justice. As a result, the non-profit held a three-day virtual social justice forum Race, Activism, and Photography later that year in December.
Examining recent societal injustices, systemic racism, and the continued underrepresentation in the art world through the lenses of art and activism, the symposium featured panel-led roundtables, lectures, and artist presentations, and amplified the voices of artists, writers, and arts professionals, the majority of whom had participated in CPW’s residency program. The forum culminated with a keynote address by the esteemed photographer Carrie Mae Weems, as part of the recently-endowed Arnold Newman Lectures at Woodstock series.
CPW, now in its 45th year, moved its headquarters to a new location at 474 Broadway in Kingston, with its large and growing community of artists and creative professionals, as part of a long-term plan to expand its programming to serve the wider region. The organization will begin a new season of programming later in the Spring. It will retain a presence in Woodstock through its residency program.
“We will truly miss Hannah’s energy and tireless dedication, particularly at this exciting moment in our story,” said Barry Mayo, also a Co-Chair of the board. “We are thrilled about the potential for CPW’s future serving Kingston and the wider region, and we can’t wait to forge collaborative partnerships in this vibrant creative community. Without her passion and expertise at the helm, we’ll have our work cut out for us.”
Regarding her future plans, Frieser commented: “I can’t say just yet, but I definitely will share more detailed plans fairly soon.” CPW will begin its search for a new executive director immediately.
Photograph courtesy of Dennis Paul ©2015
Please contact info@cpw.org or 845-802-0195 for additional information.