20×24 Studio

20×24 Polaroid Camera
For its artistic collaborations, Impossible Works will provide all kinds of vintage Polaroid cameras, amongst them one of the unique and rare Polaroid 20×24 cameras. The first 20×24 Polaroid camera was built in 1977 based on the design of Dr. Edwin Land, founder of Polaroid. These cameras weigh over 200 kg, are made of wood, and produce large format instant film images (20 x 27 1/2 inch) of such quality, that even upon close inspection do not show any film grain. In 2011, only seven of these cameras still exist; five of them are still being used.
Jan Hnizdo, an acknowledged photographer and former 20×24 camera operator for Polaroid made this unique camera available for Impossible Works. Impossible Works will make this camera as well as the new generation of 20×24 Impossible integral film available to instant artists all over the world, continuing the former Polaroid Collection principles.
Impossible Films
Impossible Works will make Impossible instant film materials available to photographers: the small format with the classic white frame, as well as large format films: 4×5 inch, 8×10 inch and 20×24 inch (supported by the 20×24 Holdings LLC in NYC). These new generation instant films are invented and manufactured by Impossible in the former Polaroid production plant in Enschede (NL).

Jennifer Trausch, a 2000 Cleveland Institute of Art graduate, is the Director of Photography at the 20X24 Studio in New York City. This former Polaroid studio is the only facility in New York that offers one-of-a-kind large-format analog technology. Jen has directed the studio operations for more than five years. In large-format photography, according to Jen, “many artists feel that the tonal nuances produced by Polaroid 20×24 film are impossible to capture with digital means. In some ways digital is too perfect, and many artists still yearn for the uniqueness and personality of large-scale Polaroid prints.” Successful as a large-format photographer herself, Jen uses the camera she manages to produce her own work that is exhibited around the world.

New York: We felt a little like Lilliputians facing a mechanical Gulliver.  Dominating the studio was a Polaroid camera cranked to a height of seven feet, bellows extended two feet out.  The burnished -wood cabinet made it look more like a campaign chest than an instant camera.  Ninety seconds after a flash of bulbs, photographer Bill Ray seemed as eager as the rest of the assemblage as the 22 1/2-by-30 inch negative was peeled away, revealing a life-size portrait of Andy Warhol. Only Warhol seemed less than overwhelmed – but, then, he had worked with this very camera back when it was experimental.  Although proven, it’s still only one of five such cameras in the world — one is in Europe; the other three are used for research in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Polaroid has promised to keep its colossus in New York until the end of November (after that a permanent home will be selected), renting the camera and facilities to photographers ($1000 a day plus $25 per acceptable exposure). Dr. Rogier Gregoire, marketing manager for Very Large Format Photography will also give the public a chance to have half-hour portrait sittings for $100 on November 18. Pinned to the easel, the giant “snapshot” captured every strand of the famous Warhol hair.  As we clustered around the photo, only Warhol betrayed no interest.  “I really don’t like to look at pictures of myself,” he explained.

On May 17th, 2011 the 20×24 Studio was proud to participate in the annual benefit auction for Free Arts NYC. Continuing a ten year old tradition, the studio offered portraits by photographer Myrna Suarez to guests making special donations. In addition a silent and live auction was held offering artworks by prominent artists from all over the world. 

Free Arts NYC programs inspire children to re-imagine their worlds and transform their lives through the creative arts. With the help of dedicated and caring volunteer mentors, Free Arts NYC delivers creative arts programs directly to low income, homeless, abused and neglected children. They partner with group homes, shelters, schools and community centers to give children the opportunity to express themselves in a supportive environment in order to develop communication and trust. Their programs and the relationships they foster help children and families experience new levels of hope and creativity. Free Arts NYC volunteers and facilitators give all of the children and families they work with a high level of personal attention. Their volunteer to child ratio is often 1:1 and, at most, 1:3. They are able to reach these ratios without exorbitant expense because of their unique volunteer model. Since 1998, founding Director Liz Hopfan has taken the nonprofit from a budget of $100,000 to over $2,000,000. Free Arts NYC volunteers have now served over 24,000 children and families. Learn more about Free Arts at www.freeartsnyc.org.