Shows
Defend the DarkroomSonja Scharf and Kelly Kyle of Akasha Art Projects - an inspiring creative coupleI started talking to partners because I wanted to learn how a partnership can help you stay focus - stay inspired - to help you keep creating. I asked Sonja and Kelly to talk with me because I have witnessed the growth of their gallery and wanted to hear their story. Many couples (at some point) take a pause or pull back from one another as their business grows -so much of their energies goes into the business instead of each other. But interestingly, Sonja and Kelly seem to have come closer together. Their differences have helped t...
2024-04-1441 min
Defend the DarkroomTalking with Hon. Marie Charette-Pouline and Bernard Poulin - what a conversationThere are no words to adequately describe this conversation - it blew me away. So often a family has one person who is "the go-getter" but when you meet a couple whose relationship could only be defined as "reaching for the stars" - you just have to talk to them. After 50 years of marriage, Mme. Charette-Poulin and M. Poulin still talk about each other as if they just met. The admiration, respect and love that they have for each other is obvious and awe inspiring. I am convinced this is one of many reasons why t...
2024-02-0858 min
Defend the DarkroomDefend the Darkroom with Chris NichollsIn my head, a photo shoot is loud and bright and full of people running around. A gorgeous model stands in front of a camera with a wind machine blow their hair back - the model looks moody and the photographer is yelling at them to give them.... something. Then there is real life... or at least real life during a Chris Nicholls shoot. Quiet music plays in the background - the stylists, who I thought ran around at a frantic pace trying to apease the photograher, are calmly discussing alternative poses and options with t...
2024-01-0548 min
Defend the DarkroomMICHELLE FORSYTHWe all give ourselves excuses to not achieve… but do we ever give ourselves reasons to succeed. Michelle Forsyth is an incredible inspiration for me. She is unstoppable in her studio practice – she supports and encourages a new generation of artists in her teaching practice – she is so positive and enthusiastic about life. I am blown away with the complexity of her work and the thoughtfulness she brings to all parts of her art and life. It was so amazing to speak with her about her life and how she approaches her practice. Please...
2023-03-0439 min
Defend the DarkroomConnecting with Mike RobinsonThe involvement of the hand of the creator… not many people currently think of photography being an art form where the artist has their physical hand in the piece. Digitally, a creator is removed…. But Mike Robinson is intimately involved in all of the images he creates: he builds camera; takes the shot; mixes the chemistry; prints the image. He is precise, concerned with the details, and you can see this in the beauty of his practise: his cameras, his images, his dedication to understanding photography. In my opinion, making historical processes accessible gives a unique insight to the comp...
2022-01-2935 minDefend the DarkroomAdding beauty with trees - a reforestation project by Ioana VrabieA lovely project focused on added beauty not only through the creation of artowrk but also planting trees. An inspiring reforestation project to support cutting carbon emissions and an amazing organziation "One Tree Planted"
2021-12-0804 min
Defend the DarkroomStarting a career with Deanna PizzitelliI think it’s common for most creatives to dream about the day when they garner recognition, find gallery representation and starting to get shown internationally. I don’t believe I ever have had a full understanding of what these things would (or could) mean to an art practise or how an art practise needs to be in constant motion to keep evolving and fresh. Speaking with Deanna Pizzitelli was a real pleasure. Her experiences in starting as a photographic printer then evolved her practise to shooting and is now into the realm of education demonstrates how she...
2021-08-2333 min
Defend the DarkroomMarcel Petit - photographer, storyteller, MetisJediMarcel Petit doesn’t mince words – he openly shares his journey, philosophy and desire to not only take a great photograph but connect with his environment. He is thoughtful about why he takes photographs and mindful of how he is capturing an image; he isn’t ok with being on default. Marcel is very respectful of the subject and strives to create a strong story. In his community, Marcel is known for much more than photography and he works to create discourse and builds bridges wherever he goes. When you mix in a great sense of humour and the abilit...
2021-05-2747 minDefend the DarkroomChatting with Dianne BosDianne Bos does not look at her life linearly. At every opportunity she is open to learning and challenging her perception about the world around her. Speaking with Dianne was electric – she loops ideas and processes together seamlessly with a healthy dose of enthusiasm. Knowing that Dianne defines herself as an Artist and that she does not limit herself to only one method of creation makes understanding her enthusiasm and varied career easier. In speaking with Dianne, I learnt how creativity is something that can be seen as fluid and fed by connection to the world around yo...
2021-03-1850 min
Defend the DarkroomTalking with June ClarkWhile I was speaking with June Clark she mentioned how artists must be willing to take risks. This sentiment really stuck with me – in these crazy times where nothing is “the same” or “normal”, we creatives have been given the gift of time: time to break out of our routines, time to look at the world around us, time to question, time to be open and try something new and different. June seems almost fearless in her quest to express her vision and ideas to the world. After our conversation, I was left wondering if she ever ran from a...
2021-02-0835 min
Defend the DarkroomTalking to April HickoxAlthough April Hickox may not be an environmentalist, in the traditional definition of the word, she is very much of her environment. April is completely engaged with the place where she lives, the people that are part of her community and what is happening around her. She is an observer; a thinker; storyteller and her photographs bring you into her world. I feel like every moment inspires her by what she is seeing and experiencing around her – and she stays engaged constantly creating, interacting with others in the community, observing and thinking. It was such a pleasure to talk to...
2020-12-0939 min
Defend the DarkroomConnecting with Craig RichardsCraig Richards has a full life but there has always been one underlying theme that brought everything into focus: photography. From his time at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies in Banff AB starting as a technician and retiring as the Curator of photography; creating the internationally recognized “Through the Lens” program as well as being the one of the founders of Exposure Photo Festival in Calgary AB (along with Diane Bos and Janet Naclia) – Craig is known as someone who is enthusiastic not only about photography but about collaborating with others. His passion and ent...
2020-10-1658 min
Defend the DarkroomTalking with George WebberChatting with George Webber…. While speaking with George Webber he said: “Time is the currency of photography” – so true. George has been part of Calgary’s photo community for decades; not only as an instructor but also as a documenter, through creating artistic commentary and as a commercial shooter. George started as a script writer which gave him an intense understanding of time, process and the necessity of creating relationships. He extols the importance of learning about life – not just staying put and isolated in one world. I really appreciate how thoughtful and dedicated George is to his passion...
2020-09-1241 min
Defend the DarkroomA conversation with Barbara AstmanWe all have that one artist whose work is compelling and interests us – it provides us with interesting ideas that challenge how we look at the world, ourselves, our work. Barbara Astman’s photography does that for me. I love how she constructs images, layers images (and meanings) while creating bold statements. It was such a pleasure to speak with Barbara. She was really easy to talk to and so open about how she is dealing with COVID, the start of her career, how she arrived in Toronto and why she is so active in the art comm...
2020-08-1835 minDefend the DarkroomTalking to Shin SuginoWhen Shin Sugino said that he was up for chatting with me – I was so excited. I knew he was wildly talented but his story makes that seem like an interesting side note. Shin’s story cannot be described as ordinary or dull – he has always challenge boundaries, continued learning and is always having fun. I look forward to seeing the work that comes out of his new darkroom! Attached is a copy of a video produced about his last exhibit in Tokyo – due to the pandemic, his latest exhibit opening has been postponed. Please visit Sh...
2020-06-2032 min
Defend the DarkroomDavid MorrishDavid Morrish’s career is definitely unique – starting in architecture, moving into carpentry, then photography, throw in some print making all the while creating an epic collection of… things makes for a great story. I love how his every day is an exploration in creation. Learning about his use of found object, the creation of a Wunderkammen, his love of creating narrative and an ever apparent sense of humor gave me so many great ideas for my own practice. I can’t wait to see where he goes next.
2020-05-2628 min
2020-04-2733 min
Defend the DarkroomThaddeus HolowniaThis past week I had the pleasure of getting to know Thaddeus Holownia. Our conversation really made me stop and think about how see my practice and myself. I hope that you enjoy our conversation! To see more of Thaddeus' work please visit.... https://holownia.com/ And his printing press can be found at.... https://anchoragepress.ca/
2020-04-2426 min
Defend the DarkroomA conversation with Ruth KaplanRuth Kaplan is a documentary-based photographer whose work explores a variety of themes such as the social behaviour of bathers in communal hot springs, participants in rituals of spirituality and most recently, the situation surrounding refugees seeking asylum in Canada in Canadian/U.S.A. border-town shelters in Buffalo, Detroit, Toronto and Fort Erie, and at the Roxham Road border crossing in New York/Quebec. Kaplan has exhibited internationally and can be found in major Canadian and international collections and publications. She has received numerous grants and awards and is a photography instructor at OCAD U...
2020-03-2442 minDefend the DarkroomEpisode 4: Deborah SamuelThis podcast started as an opportunity for creative people to talk about their motivation: not their process; their equipment or their team but simply ‘the why’ of creating. What gets them up in the middle of the night. We believe this interview with Deborah Samuel demonstrates how some people are more than simply inspired but driven to create. It is their language... beyond an emotion… It simply is… and there is no other option. This interview moved us and has inspired us in ways that we are very surprised by. We hope you are inspired as well...
2020-02-2037 min2019-12-1441 minDefend the DarkroomDefend The Darkroom #2: Steve ShermanWelcome back! This episode we are talking with Steve Sherman. I met Steve a number of years ago when he came to Elevator Digital to lead a workshop on his method of split tone printing. Flash forward a number of years, a couple of workshops and a few parties and I was attending the inaugural Photo Arts Exchange symposium in Connecticut with over 50 other photographers from across the US (I was the only Canadian btw). During the PaX symposium, Steve was interviewing everyone about who they are and why they were attending the symposium and what their...
2019-11-1028 min
Defend the DarkroomDefend The Darkroom Episode 1: Bob CarnieWelcome to our first interview! Bob Carnie has been working in the photographic industry for over 30 years now. He is an accomplished printmaker, colour corrector and project manager. Known to being a supportive collaborator, Bob has dedicated himself to helping educate new photographers and printmakers as well as supporting seasoned photographers exhibit their work. He is in a new studio space at 1681 Dundas West and I cannot wait to see the new works that will be created there. It was a pleasure to sit and talk with him about his past exploits and future.
2019-10-1146 min