A SF Bay Area photo darkroom/workshop venue/gallery is gone.

Vaughn · Apr 15, 2020

PhotoCentral was founded in 1983 by Geir and Kate Jordahl. As part of the Hayward Area Recreation District, Kate and Geir, along with a host of fine artists and teachers have been providing darkroom space and classes, workshops and shows for 35+ years.

Doors are closed, Kate and Geir are gone, I got my lay-off notice in the mail today. A top-heavy administration cutting away at its own base for survival. But they have a tremendous system of parks.

Ward Creek, Hayward, CA 2019
11x14 negative. Platinum/palladium print in recent show at PhotoCentral

images39 · Apr 15, 2020

Damn... what a shame. Sorry that it's closed, and that you've lost this as a venue to contribute to photography.

That's a fine looking print, too.

Dale

Richard Man · Apr 15, 2020

Holy SH*T!

Vaughn · Apr 15, 2020

Yeah, that's about all that is left to say about it. Geir and Kate put their lives into creating and making the place incredible...which it was.

CMoore · Apr 15, 2020

Vaughn said:
PhotoCentral was founded in 1983 by Geir and Kate Jordahl. As part of the Hayward Area Recreation District, Kate and Geir, along with a host of fine artists and teachers have been providing darkroom space and classes, workshops and shows for 35+ years.

Doors are closed, Kate and Geir are gone, I got my lay-off notice in the mail today. A top-heavy administration cutting away at its own base for survival. But they have a tremendous system of parks.

Ward Creek, Hayward, CA 2019
11x14 negative. Platinum/palladium print in recent show at PhotoCentral

35 years is a long time.
Are you saying you were employed there, or is that a separate issue.?
Was this a business that was run by those two people.?

Roger Thoms · Apr 15, 2020

Vaughn, very sorry to hear the sad news. Geir and Kate are a class act and Photo Central will be missed.

Roger

BradS · Apr 16, 2020

Well, that sucks. I never used the darkroom nor took classes there but did enjoy quite a few exhibitions. It always seemed to me to be a sort of oasis in...well, it was a really special place. I hope Kate and Geir are ok and I express my condolences and gratitude to all who made this place special.

jtk · Apr 16, 2020

The "administration" has gigantic responsibilities. Explosive growth in former bedroom/industrial/agricultural world.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayward_Area_Recreation_and_Park_District

Vaughn · Apr 16, 2020

CMoore said:
35 years is a long time.
Are you saying you were employed there, or is that a separate issue.?
Was this a business that was run by those two people.?

It was program created and operated by Kate and Geir under the administration of the Hayward Area Rec District. Darkrooms (wet and digital) and gallery at the headquarters in Hayward. K & G were employees of the Rec District.

I taught workshops there, and it is unusual to have teachers of the various programs (photo, ceramics, theater, kids' programs, et al) be district employees, instead of contract-workers.

K&G had just put on a great show celebtating HARD's 75th birthday -- the image above was in the show, and was taken on one of the trails on land administered by HARD.

jtk · Apr 16, 2020

Obviously impossible for an operation like that to stay open during Covid.

Impossible for taxpayers to pay to maintain and provide security for an operation like that until some mysterious time in the future, when this Covid may arguably have run its course....

... and before next year's Covid 20 strikes.

jtk · Apr 16, 2020

Here in Albuquerque our wonderful and heavily used library system has shut down.

Probably the same in most places.

Richard Man · Apr 16, 2020

For the HARD 75th show, I actually had two pieces of Chinese calligraphy, including this 9-feet wide piece (one of the largest single word calligraphy). The word is "Dragon"

Vaughn · Apr 16, 2020

jtk said:
Obviously impossible for an operation like that to stay open during Covid.

Small difference between shut down for the duration and permanent closure of PhotoCentral, but tough times for everyone.

BradS · Apr 16, 2020

Vaughn said:
Small difference between shut down for the duration and permanent closure of PhotoCentral, but tough times for everyone.

Suppose they will sell the building then?

Vaughn · Apr 16, 2020

Richard Man said:
For the HARD 75th show, I actually had two pieces of Chinese calligraphy, including this 9-feet wide piece (one of the largest single word calligraphy). The word is "Dragon"

You got me scratching my head! I was referring to Resonance: Eleven Artists Respond to HARD at 75. Were you in the last show (multi-media) show for area artists? I did not get to see that show...I was about to head down to help with the Spring Show when the virus showed up.

Vaughn · Apr 16, 2020

BradS said:
Suppose they will sell the building then?

No, not at all -- it is the headquarters for the Hayward Area Rec and Parks District (which serves four cities). They have temp closed many of their facilities (swimming pool, theater, etc...possibly the Japanese Garden (narrow paths) and have suspended all public programs for the pandemic. They have their own rangers (law enforcement) and have been enforcing safe practices in their parks....glad they are keeping them open. They have started converting some of the ex-PhotoCentral space into classrooms for children's programs for when things re-open.

PhotoCentral was down in the daylight basement and the gallery was on both floors.

Roger Thoms · Apr 16, 2020

Hope Hard isn’t going to something stupid like throw all the equipment out.

Roger

Vaughn · Apr 16, 2020

Huge sinks that are trapped behind large revolving doors. Excellent enlargers, lenses, etc etc etc, lots of donated equipment, camera collection(s)...don't know what will happen.

BradS · Apr 16, 2020

Have truck, will travel.

Last time I was there was for the Bill Owens show in 2018....

Vaughn · Apr 16, 2020

I was out in back in charge of the beer for that show! Putting up that show was nuts...I was a bit wiped out, so I just kicked back outside and tested the beer. Bill is a great guy.

BradS · Apr 16, 2020

Vaughn said:
I was out in back in charge of the beer for that show! Putting up that show was nuts...I was a bit wiped out, so I just kicked back outside and tested the beer. Bill is a great guy.

Yeah, I remember. It was hot outside. I ran into you just as you were headed out to the shady place out back. The place was absolutely packed. Bill was signing books and chatting. I wanted to talk to him but, wasn't gonna stand in line. Would have like to just sit at the bar later and, you know, talk about stuff. It was a great show.

Richard Man · Apr 16, 2020

Vaughn said:
You got me scratching my head! I was referring to Resonance: Eleven Artists Respond to HARD at 75. Were you in the last show (multi-media) show for area artists? I did not get to see that show...I was about to head down to help with the Spring Show when the virus showed up.

Ooops, yes, I got the shows confused. Ha ha. I was at the "Area Artists" show, curated by Leah.

Roger Thoms · Apr 16, 2020

BradS said:
Have truck, will travel.

Last time I was there was for the Bill Owens show in 2018....

That was a good show and we ended up with a Bill Owens print which we are totally enjoying.

And if I recall Vaughn seemed quite content minding the beer garden.

Roger

Richard Man · Apr 16, 2020

BTW, I did the big collage on the top floor for the Bill Owens show. What a hoot.

BradS · Apr 16, 2020

Richard Man said:
BTW, I did the big collage on the top floor for the Bill Owens show. What a hoot.

That was cool! I must have stood and looked at it for 10~15 minutes.

A SF Bay Area photo darkroom/workshop venue/gallery is gone.

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