Magic Lantern Collective
Have you heard whispers of a community darkroom coming to Bridge Street? The rumors are true! Phoenixville’s newest art collective, Magic Lantern, will be a home for photography, performances, and more! Read the interview with one of the founders, Bonnie Providence, to learn about the collective.
What is Magic Lantern?
Magic Lantern Studio is a space where the worlds of four creatives collide and glimmers of what makes our town so full of wonder are born. Whether performative, literary, or through a traditional craft, what we create are connections between people and the world outside of AI and algorithms. Through tangible objects and ineffable experiences, each of our practices reach just beyond what is known to show magic is possible in our everyday lives.
How did this collective form?
Bonnie, Chuck, Paul, and Vincent are friends who have been supporting each other’s individual creativity for a few years now. When the opportunity of an open space on Bridge Street arose at the same time that Vincent and Paul were looking for space and Bonnie and Chuck were looking for an upgrade, it seemed logical to join efforts. The Magic Lantern name itself is a spin-off from a role-playing game the four played together as Lightfolk. It seemed to fit both the town and its iconic blue lampposts, as well as the way each artist plays with light and magic in their practices.
What is a community darkroom?
We have a darkroom. We believe in our community. We know the value in sharing knowledge as a way to preserve an art form as well as a way to strengthen skills. Our goal with this space is to offer use of the darkroom at an hourly rate to folks who have proficiency with developing and printing, as well as classes for beginners and workshops on experimental processes. There are similar spaces found in Philadelphia’s Halide Project and Reading’s GoggleWorks, but both are an hour’s commute from an area that has a growing photography community both in Phoenixville and West Chester. We’d love to support these groups as a meeting space on occasion before photo walks or to offer critiques and share work informally.
How can the Phoenixville community get involved?
Stop by! We’ll be open for the Art Walk as well as a few events through the holiday season. We are also launching a Kickstarter to supplement our chemistry and fill some equipment gaps so that the darkroom is better suited for community use. If you are looking to get back into analog work or have someone you’re shopping for around the holidays, get a chance at early sign-ups for classes and darkroom access through the Kickstarter!
You can also see our works in action outside of the studio! Heartwood players are working on a Mischief Night at the Firebird build, Improv Jam is held at The Colonial Theatre, Bonfire clothes are available at Ravensgate, and Chuck Savoy will be a featured artist there for November!
Meet the Artists of Magic Lantern
Bonnie Providence
Bio
Bonnie Providence is an interdisciplinary artist whose practices range as much as their curiosity and creativity compel them. Growing up in the woods and creeks of the greater Philadelphia area, both art and nature have played central roles in Bonnie’s life. Bonnie attended Tyler School of Art with focuses in Printmaking, Glassblowing, and Art History, and has been returning to their creative practice through the photographic lens.
Artist Statement
I often feel pulled between the worlds of art and craft, and each play a significant role in keeping my hands and mind occupied when my 17-month-old son is not. Through craft, I hope to create garments that allow the wearer to feel seen as their true selves. My art, which has taken a bit of a back seat as I’ve leaned into my new family, is a meditative way for me to explore the intersection of the natural world and the inner landscape of the human experience. Layering abstract and representational mediums, I create spaces for viewers to immerse themselves like they would watching a fire, stream, or wind passing over a field.
Studio Role
Bonnie is half of the hands involved in starting a community darkroom and is excited to have it up and running as soon as possible. Bonnie also uses the space as the creative hub for their Bonfire line - unique clothes sold ready-made downstairs at Ravensgate or by commission. A children’s line, Kindling, is in the works, and samples will be available at the Art Walk!
Chuck Savoy
Bio
Chuck Savoy grew up in Phoenixville before pursuing a degree in Photography from the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University, with a focus in analog and historic mediums. Shortly after graduating with his BFA, he spent several years running away on boats and a few years in education. Settling back in the area in the last few years, he began practicing art in earnest and is excited to be participating in his second Art Walk this year.
Artist Statement
As both an individual and an artist, I tend to be very drawn to process and tactility, often choosing to work in analog and physical mediums. I'm particularly drawn to the technical craft of photography, and its ability to demand that attention and focus be placed on seemingly quotidian or mundane moments that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Studio Role
Cofounding/Corunning community darkroom and eventually offering classes and workshops in Photography and darkroom printing. Potentially offering wet-plate tin type portraiture.
Vincent Tavani
Bio
Vincent Tavani grew up in Phoenixville in a time when the Mural held the hope of what the town could be. After traveling far to hitchhike, sail, farm, study, teach, and tend trees, he returned because he believes the spirit of this town is unique, and because he believes that art can focus the town’s rebirth. The images he collected can serve to make a mythos of a home that is grounded, sensitive, and lively. You might have already seen him on Bridge Street typing poems for people to be present in the important moments.
Artist Statement
My work creates space that allows deeper presence with yourself, each other, the land, and more than human beings. I believe shared attention is magic, and that words are the ritual spells, and that the meaning they can cultivate is the potent ground of communal change.
Studio Role
I’ll be thinking up events and collaborations, looking outward to find ways our little collective can participate with the rhythms of town and dreaming up new myths to make sense of where we are. In my personal craft, that will mean creating poems and poetry events to pass on the spark.
Paul Deichmann
Bio
Paul is a jack of many trades: theatre artist, podcaster, game master, voice-over artist, and (if you can believe it) more. He runs a monthly improv movement workshop at the Colonial, where he also produces community productions of staged readings and plays.
Artist Statement
The universe is full of play. Through workshops in movement, collaborative creation, and play in space, I explore how play shapes the self, and how the Self that emerges in playfulness shapes the world. I do fun things and help people access the fun within themselves.
Studio Role
My refractions from the lantern will be theatre workshops (eco-poetical performances, improv, devising, creative writing, and mask work), TTRPG game offerings and DM consultations, and book clubs focusing on writings that enliven the world in their reading (currently planning an absolutely brain-blasting book club/art workshop using the early writings of C. G. Jung as our diving board).
