The Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival exhibit by Hermann & Audrey is held in The Baitshop and I’m obsessed with it. There is a huge skateboarding ramp as soon as you walk in. The ceilings are high with exposed beams, ductwork and brick. The Baitshop makes me want to throw a party or an event. The space is just that inviting.
The exhibit features photographers Steve Carty, Javier Lovera, Stefania Sgambelluri, Jalani Morgan and Cory Vanderploeg. These photographers will collaboration with artists Skam, Jon Todd, Derooted’s Simon Rojas, Smakstudio’s Scott McIntyre and Kimmy Yun to create 40 pieces challenging Marshall McLuhan’s theory of Hot and Cold media.
In Understanding Media, Marshall McLuhan defined photography as a ‘hot’ medium, characterized by single sense stimulation with a high degree of data. According to McLuhan, absorption of the ‘hot’ message requires minimal involvement on the part of the viewer. ‘Cold’ mediums, by contrast, are low in data because little visual information is provided, thus putting the user in a more active role of filling in the gaps. Hermann & Audrey’s exhibition reacts against McLuhan’s principles by demanding viewer involvement in the process; suggesting that the consumption of still images can be ‘cold’.
There was an interactive element to many of the pieces in the exhibit and some even required active physical participation. Other pieces are fusions of other art forms with photography. The result is an ubercool collection featuring urban street culture influences like skateboarding, graffiti and music.
In addition to the exhibit, there is a Live Art-Making & Expert Speaker Panel on Thursday, May 13, 7PM at The Baitshop Gallery.
Community Art Project. A night of creation and exploration, festival-goers and the community are invited to participate in the production of a large-scale communal art project. Directed by the artists, participants will be given the tools to collaborate and contribute to the making of a innovative art piece. Back inside, an expert panel of photographers, art directors and brand strategists discuss today’s photographic landscape focusing on when does art end and commercial begin.
The exhibit is open to the public and it runs from May 6–31, 2010
Baitshop
358 Dufferin St, Ste 117
Toronto
Thurs – Fri 4 – 9pm
Sat 12 – 9pm
Sun 12 – 5pm
or by appt.
Disclosure: This one is a series of posts about the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival. The organizers have asked me to share my experiences at the exhibits with you and get the word out about this event in exchange for fee. The Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival runs from May 1 – 31, 2010
CONTACT is an annual month long festival of photography with over 1000 local, national and international artists at more than 200 venues across the Greater Toronto Area in May. Founded as a not-for-profit organization 14 years ago, CONTACT is devoted to celebrating, and fostering an appreciation of the art and profession of photography. As the largest photography event in the world, and a premiere cultural event in Toronto, CONTACT stimulates excitement and discussion among a diverse audience that has grown to over 1.5 million and is focused on cultivating even greater interest and participation this year.(source)