My father, Michael Reichmann had a few final wishes. One was to establish a lasting organization which would help empower deserving photographers with opportunities to manifest their dreams.
My mother Teya and I watched while, along with the compiling and printing of his 20-year retrospective (his other last wish), my then terminal father was able to set in motion this dream by establishing The Luminous Endowment. The Luminous Endowment was a granting initiative which offered awards to photographers around the world. The endowment’s board of trusties was also birthed, and so even after his eventual death, his wish was continually realized.
Sadly, but perhaps not surprisingly, these kinds of organizations are difficult to maintain when the main locomotive of the mission is gone. With my father’s passing the endowment (despite some valient efforts by some) was unable to rally the energy, consistency of members, or means necessary to stay afloat. We are certainly indebted to those efforts.
It is with great personal excitement and gratitude that I announce the following: The endowment’s board members have concluded their work, and while it has now closed it’s operations completely, it has found a more than worthy home for my fathers’ last wish to carry and pay it forward.
The endowment has passed the baton into the prestigious, progressive and outstanding hands of Photolucida.
More about photolucia in their own words :
” Photolucida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We award international and/or MFA student scholarships to our Critical Mass program. We also extend a number of scholarships to deserving photographers to attend our biennial Portfolio Reviews event.
Dedicated to increasing understanding through photography, Photolucida has donated Critical Mass books annually to over 200 libraries and photography educators across the state of Oregon.Photolucida oversees Portland Photo Month every April, now in it’s ninth year. Photolucida’s Privacy Policy: We do not share or sell your personal information to outside entities.
LUCIDA: bright, luminous, suffused with light, the brightest star in a constellation.
Photolucida is an arts nonprofit based in Portland, Oregon. Our mission is to provide platforms that expand, inspire, educate and connect the regional,
national, and international photography community.Artists and photographers wishing to submit work to photolucida should check out their comprehensive granting systems and portfolio review process along with their many photography supportive programs. “
When I assumed running The Luminous Landscape I was visited by a profoundly strong calling to ensure the safety of my father’s 20-year retrospective books – which without funding – were until very recently, perilously close to being destroyed! I am happy to announce that all remaining books have been purchased from the endowment by my family and all proceeds forwarded to Photolucida by the shuttered endowment.
About the books : “Michael Reichmann – a 20 Year Photography Retrospective” is a large format, cloth bound, hard-cover book with 400 pages, containing 380 images. It will be available in two editions; a signed limited-edition, contained in a clam-shell style slip-case, and also in an open-edition without slip-case. The book was designed by Arturo Chapa, one of the world’s top book designers.
The Luminous Landscape will very shortly be offering all of the remaining books for sale to the community, with all proceeds going to the newly established ‘Michael Reichmann Project Grant.
Please stay tuned for more information on how to purchase this limited, and beautiful totem to Michael Reichmann’s work and final act! In doing so you will also be supporting a very worthy cause which will benifit the world’s emerging and established photographers alike, for years to come.
Fulfilling wishes. As it should be.
Josh Reichmann
August 2019