Exhibit: Two Unique & Very Canadian CONTACT Exhibits at Gladstone Hotel!

Gladstone Hotel's Two Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival Exhibits Review

May has been such a busy month for me. Between work and family, trying to visit as many Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival exhibits has been quite a challenge this year. I loved the three exhibits at MOCCA so much that I decided to walk the ten minutes west on Queen Street, to take in the two exhibits at Gladstone Hotel.

Bright Lights Dark City: Crumbling Land by Sylvain Chaussee

Bright Lights Dark City: Crumbling Land (detail) by Sylvain Chaussee

After Frank, located on the second floor gallery, documents the journey of Toronto-based collective DAYTRIP as they search for iconic photographer Robert Frank. The trip, from Toronto to Mabou, Nova Scotia, to New York City, takes on a road trip feel with images of the Canadian landscape and the people as well as found objects and hand drawn maps. There is also a short documentary that was filmed during the journey, playing in an adjacent room. This exhibit was pretty cool and brought back memories of the long family road trips I took as a child.

DAYTRIP: AFter Frank 

After Frank: Street Vendor, 2014 by DAYTRIP

DAYTRIP: After Frank

On the third and fourth floor galleries Bright Lights Dark City: Niagara Custom Lab and Experimental Film is on display. Founded over twenty years ago, Niagara Custom Film Lab is one of the last labs in the world that works with celluloid film. Bright Lights Dark City brings together nine artists, both emerging and established, showcasing some very cool and diverse artwork. I loved seeing all the unique pieces and learning about another amazing Toronto-based company.

Bright Lights Dark City: Garden of Earthly Delights, 2008 (L) and Echo, 2007(R) by Izabella Pruska-Oldenhof

Bright Lights Dark City: Garden of Earthly Delights, 2008 (detail) by Izabella Pruska-Oldenhof

Bright Lights Dark City: Echo, 2007 (detail) by Izabella Pruska-Oldenhof

Bright Lights Dark City: won eyed jail, 2005 by Kelly Egan

Bright Lights Dark City: won eyed jail, 2005 (detail) by Kelly Egan

Bright Lights Dark City

Both DAYTRIP: After Frank and Bright Lights Dark City: Niagara Custom Lab and Experimental Film are on display daily 12pm - 5pm until May 31, 2015.

Ryerson University Exhibition: No One Says Anything, Everyone Remembers Everything

P.s!: Don't forget to visit the Ryerson Student exhibit on the main level. All these exhibits are free and open to the public!

P.s,

Melanie!