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It’s that time of year again — when photography takes over the art scene, and shooters of all disciplines get their turn in the spotlight.
With 50 exhibitions and 20 special events taking place during February in Calgary, Banff and Canmore, Exposure 2012 continues its ever-expanding exploration of the art form.
This year’s festivities mark the inaugural year for festival chair Peter Duthie, who’s no stranger to the industry; in 1983, he brought Folio — the only photography-centred gallery west of Toronto — to Kensington.
“The context back then was that galleries weren’t necessarily like what they are today. There were a lot of people who were ‘artists,’” he says. “It never seemed quite right to me. I thought, you need to create a showcase of as broad an offering as possible, because back then, I was really trying to develop more of a market and appreciation for serious photography.”
After closing Folio’s doors in 1995, Duthie segued into corporate publishing and has continued promoting photography by co-ordinating the Scotia Waterous Book Project for the last 18 years.
In preparation for Exposure 2012, Duthie adjusted the workflow of the board to avoid a mad dash in the final months before the festival opened. He held monthly meetings with the team, and they have worked hard to get the word out early — including a successful fundraiser at Lougheed House on January 13.
“Prior to this we would have an opening at the beginning of the festival, and, you know what it’s like — you say there’s a play and it’s a really good play and it only runs for 10 days. It takes eight days for the word to get around,” he says. “I think we’re going into the festival with a little more energy.”
In addition to the anticipation over the coming onslaught of photographic delights, Duthie hopes this year’s offerings bring audiences a sense of balance throughout the three communities in which the festival is held.
New venues such as Lougheed House and Arts Central have stepped forward to host a variety of events, and Duthie hopes to continue expanding partnerships. This year, photographs will break out of the galleries and take to the streets, thanks to Pattison billboards, and transit-goers will get a taste of the festival through work displayed at the Brentwood and Chinook LRT stations.
“Photography is a huge force in culture for good and for bad,” says Duthie. “I think there’s a real need to balance the barrage of commercial photography with some more sensitive, serious work by photographers who don’t have a commercial agenda.”
Exposure Highlights:
Diana Thorneycroft: A People’s History
Art Gallery of Calgary, February 10 - April 7
Thorneycroft’s expertly crafted miniature worlds take photography to a whole new dimension. Examining “atrocities” that have taken place in Canadian society, the exhibition is laced with a twisted humour that offsets the underlying issues. The series shines an uncomfortable spotlight on events many Canadians would sooner forget but which are part of our history nonetheless.
Thorneycroft will discuss the inspiration, aesthetics and politics behind her work at the Art Gallery of Calgary on February 16 at 7 p.m.
Glimpse
Roberto Ostberg Gallery, February 3 - 25
Travel buffs and those with a case of wanderlust, this one’s for you. Five diverse artists take us to places around the globe — from intimate spaces right here in Calgary to iconic cities like New York. These aren’t your typical travel shots, however. Each artist stirs up a sense of beauty with photographic glimpses into their worldviews.
The Bread with Honey: Photographs by Andrew Querner
Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, February 4 - April 1
This exhibition tells the story of the neglected Stan Terg mine in Kosovo, which once powered a Yugoslavian mining conglomerate. The mine could be the key to a prosperous future for the country, but is currently mired down by politics and economic hardship.
Frozen
Elevation Gallery, February 4 - 11
The picturesque landscapes of the Canadian Rockies often take centre stage for photographers, but Canmore-based photographer Rob Alexander has aimed his lens at more delicate, often overlooked subjects. His macro shots of ice patterns and bright leaves frozen in ice — both naturally occurring and manufactured — pay homage to the natural beauty laying beneath our feet.
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