Studio Move and Open House

By Richard Whitbread

Tuesday, September 25th, was the RA Photo Club’s Annual Open House, but it was not a typical open house for our studio. After two years in our temporary location on the second floor, we launched the new studio in its new location (formerly the Rideau Room). For two years the studio had be relegated to a very small room on the second floor and while it was better than no studio, it left much to be desired.

Our old room on the second floor, Richard Whitbread

Finally, early in September I was told that we would be moving into a facility with its opening to correspond with this year’s Open House; a tall order indeed and one I thought, at one point, would be unachievable. Stepped in the RA Staff, led by Jane Proudfoot, Sharron Mallott and Phillip Mrakovics. They did a fantastic job responding to our requests and requirements and lo and behold, on the Friday before the Open House, they completed the first phase of work on our new facility.

Then came the turn of the studio management team and group leaders. With Glenn Worton spearheading the construction and hanging of our gallery wall, backdrop lines and set area flooring, the final construction was completed allowing our great team of studio interns to get the equipment move completed. Interns, Liz St Jean, Mike Gauvreau and Melanie Walker, and group leaders, Mike Mackay and Howard Sandler, all pushed hard through the weekend to get our gear moved, inventoried and ready for the main event: the Open House.

Our new room, Richard Whitbread

The final task was left to Mike Giovinazzo and myself — hanging up pictures for the inaugural studio gallery show. Artists displaying in this show: Kyle Jackson, Howard Sandler, Glenn Worton, Dina MacLeod, Chris Price, Meno Spijker, Richard Whitbread, Robert Laramee, Elizabeth Kamenska, Darren Boucher, Isabelle Dabrowski, Liz St Jean.

The Studio Gallery Wall, Richard Whitibread

With all the preparations done, it was time for the main event, the 2012 RA Photo Club Open House. The studio event went off with few if any hiccups, with the room itself being a major attraction overshadowed only by the beautiful models we had posing for our guest photographers. The shoot theme for the evening was inspired by the Hollywood sirens of the 20s, 40s and 50s featuring Nadia (as Marilyn Monroe) Angelika (as Rita Hayward) and the newest addition to our model pool, Kory (as the stunning Audrey Hepbun).

We had sixty guest photographers spread out over two shoot locations; the first in the main studio and the second on the upper floor adjacent to the main studio.