Gallery Review: New exhibition brings the unseen works of Canadian photographers into focus
Floyd RobertWhat: InFocus Photo Exhibition
When: Now – February 28
Where: The Front Gallery (12323 104 Ave NW)
Artists in contemporary society have the misfortune of limited opportunities to physically display their art. Considering this is a problem that plagues artists in larger artist communities, imagine how profound it is for those living in our dear city of Edmonton. Hence, the necessity of initiatives like the InFocus Photo Exhibition.
The InFocus Photo Exhibition is an annual Canada wide exhibition, which focuses on showcasing the works of Canadian photographers. It was conceived by Alexis Marie Chute and Aaron Chute, a duo who saw the need for a nation-wide exhibition that would inspire Canadian photographers. They offered the first call for submissions in the summer of 2014, and hosted their first exhibition in January 2015.
The year’s exhibit at the Front Gallery features 27 photographers from all over Canada, with works focusing on a theme of “The Future.” Chute emphasized the importance of picking images that told a story and conveyed a deeper meaning, saying that “just having a beautiful picture is not enough.”
The images at the exhibition all possessed some level of depth in connection to the theme of the future. With a lot of them being conceptual, there were various stories being told from different perspectives, but each referenced a similar theme. The images tackled the theme of “the future” in poignant, intelligent, and diverse ways.
One specific image I continue to dwell on is an untitled piece by Ann Mansolino. The image featured two white doors, one placed in front of the other, adjacent to it. The doors were placed standing on the shore of a beach and the background was the ocean. This piece immediately speaks to the social climate of immigration and the influx of refugees, which is happening today, and which will inevitably shape the future of our world. This image, similar to many others was visually stimulating and engaging.
Chute also mentions that “InFocus is also much more than just an exhibition,” and the prime example of this is the portfolio reviews they offered. Combined with the photo gallery was an opportunity for photographers of all ages and experience levels to submit their work to be assessed by notable reviewers. The reviews took place on February 10 and were completed by Larry Louie, Curtis Trent, Akemi Matsubuchi and Chute herself. The reviews allowed for professionals to give feedback to those who submitted work on how to improve as well as answered any questions the participants might have had. Initiatives like this offer a great chance for young and up-and-coming photographers to hear from experienced artists in the field, and help develop their own skills and style.
Edmonton may not be Toronto or Montreal in terms of the size of our artistic communities, but initiatives like the InFocus Photography Exhibition prove that we do have wonderful opportunities for artists to improve and develop their craft. The pieces hung in the gallery are insightful, and the portfolio reviews were a great resource for aspiring photographers, especially students, as the gifting of knowledge from experienced and established artists is an invaluable resource. Whether visiting the InFocus Photography Exhibition as a casual viewer or as an artist, the experience will be rewarding.
