James Street North: Vintage Photographs by Cees and Annerie van Gemerden

Cees and Annerie van Gemerden arrived in Hamilton in the early 1980s and settled in the James Street North area; they still call the neighbourhood home. At the time, they found a deeply engaged art scene and quickly established themselves within its tight-knit artistic community. The city experienced an economic downturn in the years following their arrival (one that has only recently begun to reverse itself), and James Street North is once again the creative heart of the city.

Highlighting the formative series On and Around James Street (1984-85), this exhibition of over twenty photographs by the van Gemerdens offers unique and timely views of familiar places in the neighbourhood—some of which have changed, some of which remain. The images feature residents and merchants along James Street North, a historically diverse cultural neighbourhood, well-known for its grassroots artist-run culture. The exhibition is an important local complement to Vivian Maier: Street Photographer, also on view.