ARTIST STATEMENT
"Light is a symbol for truth, it is at the centre of how and why we make pictures." - Robert Adams
The dignity of the scenes photographed has gradually grown outward from inside these homes and workplaces out of the necessities and character of the inhabitants. Any perceived imperfections, such as a cracked asphalt or perhaps a graffiti tag are cherished expressions of our shared identities as intrepid and self reliant people. This work is about how we are working this ground in our attempt to strike out and forge our way in this world. These photographs are intended to be a buoyant and majestic appreciation of our neighborhoods.
The night, triggering a physiological change in our brains, is a time of reflection, a time to open ourselves to new potential and possibilities. Each photograph represents a stretched length of time fixed onto a negative. These are time exposures from between thirty seconds to thirty minutes. As a photographer, it is important for me to make images using only available light. Extraneous light, such as a flash or strobe, is never added during the exposure times. I want the integrity and authenticity inherent in the scene to remain true. In my view, adding light dramatizes the scene, thereby diminishing the truth of the picture. I am attempting to illustrate the beauty of what the negative captures from what is there, rather than making the scene. This work is a documentary of the stories of our present times, yet ever changing.
- Stephen Brookbank, 2013
Organized by Alana Traficante, Manager, AGH Art Rental + Sales
Marie-Josée Laframboise Mes chemins improbables / My unpredictable paths November 17, 2012 to January 19, 2013
Following her inclusion in the Art Gallery of Hamilton’s 2011 Exhibition, Out of Place / Non lieu, Marie-Josée Laframboise was commissioned to complete a series of 20 small scale drawings based on data collected from various topographical and historical maps of Hamilton. The accompanying large scale drawings resulted from this fastidious working process and Laframboise’s ongoing impulse to explore notions of place.
This series of collectable works represents the second annual installment of an artist’s series commissioned by AGH Art Rental + Sales. The limited edition small drawings are available for purchase for $375 each.
Melissa Bennett, Curator of Contemporary Art, AGH | Alana Traficante, Manager, Art Rental + Sales, AGH
2012
EN MASSE @ AGH Design Annex September 14 to November 10, 2012
EN MASSE, a collaborative drawing group based in Montreal, were invited to create new series of pieces for the Design Annex interior. Incorporating elements of illustration, alternative comics and graffiti with “high brow” art, their imagery explodes with energy.
Under the direction of Jason Botkin, Rupert Bottenberg, and Fred Caron, EN MASSE is an ongoing series of artistic conversations of a sort, a non-linear dialogue connecting many artists through the creation of large-scale collaborative black and white murals and other works. Their work can also be seen in an outdoor mural commissioned for Supercrawl.
www.enmasse.info
Melissa Bennett, Curator of Contemporary Art, AGH | Alana Traficante, Manager, Art Rental + Sales, AGH | With the Supercrawl Curatorial Committee
WE-3: Grand Drape July 7 to September 1, 2012 Grand Drape is a contemporary design and art installation inspired by the architecture of the AGH Design Annex. Incorporating the history and materials of the space, the piece resembles contemporary curtains, creating an overall effect that is as elegant as it is subtly commemorative. The poly curtains are in panel sections that span a thirty-foot wall of exposed brick, and are lasercut with an articulated pattern derived from the original tin ceilings of the space. The piece imbues this common plastic material with considerable aesthetic value. An homage to local history and architecture, the piece is also an intriguing contribution to contemporary art and design.
Dominique Cheng, Kristina Ljubanovic, and Lauren Wickware are the newly formed artist collective, WE-3. Professionally they are an architect, graphic designer and designer who are expanding their creative practices across disciplines to create art installations. WE-3 was invited to create this site-specific work for the inaugural AGH Design Annex exhibition. wehyphenthree.tumblr.com
Melissa Bennett, Curator of Contemporary Art, AGH | Alana Traficante, Manager, Art Rental + Sales, AGH
