Ritual, Chance and Symbolism

Workshop with Pia Paulina Guilmoth

Overview

This workshop is designed for visual artists of mid to advanced level who are interested in experimental approaches to image-making.

*BONUS: This workshop takes place in tandem with both Michael Ackerman’s and Brad Zellar’s workshops. Attendees of all workshops will have time to mingle and get to know each during evening hangouts!

  • Portland Maine is a historic seacoast town with a funky vibe, working waterfront, and large art scene. Maine’s largest city (but still quaint by most standards) boasts plenty of art, food, and outdoor activities.

  • Schedule: Meets in Portland, Maine on Monday September 14-Friday September 18 from 10am to 6pm (hours subject to change).

  • Previous Attendees: $2500

    Flights, local transportation, accommodations and meals are not included in the tuition fees.

    DEPOSITS

    Selected applicants must confirm their participation by sending either a 50% tuition deposit or full tuition payments.

Limited to 12 participants.

This five-day workshop with Pia Paulina Guilmoth offers an immersive, intuitive approach to photography rooted in ritual, chance and personal narrative. Pia will share her techniques, methods and inspirations for constructing and photographing portraits, landscape, and still-life, encouraging participants to dissolve boundaries between people and their surroundings.

Central to Pia’s practice—and to this workshop—is the idea of embracing unpredictability. Participants will be guided to relinquish strict control and instead respond to what unfolds in front of them. Participants will collaborate closely with Pia to construct scenes from organic matter, gestures, and the surrounding environment, allowing images to emerge through a shared, intuitive process. Group discussions and critiques will provide space to reflect on process and intention, with Pia sharing key influences from her practice. These conversations aim to foster a supportive environment where risk-taking and vulnerability are welcomed.

By the end of the five days, participants will leave with a small body of photographs shaped by experience, experimentation, and an expanded visual language.

This workshop takes place in partnership with Mechanics’ Hall, a historic and communal gathering space with a lending library at its heart.

ABOUT Pia Paulina Guilmoth

Pia Paulina Guilmoth lives and makes art in rural Maine. She works with a 4x5 camera and various experimental analogue techniques in her practice. Her work is foremost about beauty, and her experience as a trans woman in the small town she lives in. Her work is held in the permanent collection at SFMOMA. Pia released her third book in November 2024 with Stanley/Barker titled Flowers Drink the River which received the Jury’s Special Mention for the 2025 Paris-Aperture Book of the Year award. In 2024 / 2025 she had two major solo exhibitions open in London, and New York City with CLAMP Gallery, and Webber Gallery. In 2024 she won a Google/Aperture Creator Labs grant, and a Peter Reed Foundation grant in photography, and In 2022 she was a MacDowell Fellow in Visual. Pia’s fourth book, a collaborative project with Jesse Bull Saffire titled Fishworm, was published with Void at the end of 2025. In the spring of 2026 Pia will present at the next Forum on Contemporary Photography at the Museum of Modern Art, in NYC. Pia’s out-of-print monograph from 2021, At Night Gardens Grow, is being re-issued in the summer of 2026 with Stanley/Barker books. Pia is represented by CLAMP Gallery in NYC.

Details

  • Coming soon…

  • Application deadline: July 19, 2026.

    Applications are reviewed and invitations sent between July 20-23.

    There is no fee to apply, and applications are open to photographers of all educational backgrounds and career stages. Enrollment is limited to 12 participants. To be considered, applicants must submit a portfolio of 20–30 images focused on past and/or ongoing work, limited to no more than two distinct series or projects.

    If you are a previous attendee or a Chico alumni, there is no need to reapply—please simply email us at info@charcoalworkshops.com.

  • REGULAR TUITION: $2600 USD
    PAST ATTENDEE TUITION: $2500 USD

    A 50% deposit (or full tuition payment) is required upon acceptance to confirm your participation. The remaining balance will be due in full 30 days before the start of workshop.

    Payment plans are available upon request. Please contact us at info@charcoalworkshops.com.

    Please Note: Flight expenses, local transportation, accommodations, and meals are not included in the tuition or registration fees.

  • Upon confirmation, a comprehensive information packet will be provided to attendees which will assist in coordinating their stay in Portland. This packet will include details on accommodation options, transportation instructions, restaurant recommendations, available amenities, and general travel tips.

    We have partnered with The Longfellow Hotel to offer our attendees an exclusive 10% discount + complimentary upgrade (if available) on check-in. Discounts and rooms are first come, first served.

    Please note: flight expenses, local transportation, accommodations, and meals are not included in the tuition or registration fees.

  • The deadline to withdraw from the workshop and request a refund is 90 days prior to the start date. A cancellation fee of $600 USD will apply. Refund requests submitted after this 90-day period will not be considered.

    In the event that the program does not meet minimum enrollment or is canceled for any reason, paid tuition will be credited toward a future workshop or one scheduled at the same time as the original program.

  • For all questions, please contact us at info@charcoalworkshops.com

Application