NEW RELEASES

                                                                                     Retaining

Today’s limited editions are by a promising young Canadian artist who is currently attending the Art Institute of Chicago pursuing a BVCS & BFA in photography and design.  While still finishing his degree, Quinn Keaveney has already started to gain recognition.  At a recent auction in Dallas, Texas, Quinn’s work sold above the asking price.  For the past few years Quinn has been documenting landscapes and portraits.  Today we are releasing 2 of his landscape images.  Quinn trekked a long way to get these stunning hdr images of an arctic cliff face filled with birds.  Voyaging almost 2 weeks to the coast north of Svalbar, Norway, he then continued his journey by ice breaker and kayak to reach this remote spot.  Utilizing a technique called hdr or high dynamic range photography; he combined multiple shots of the same image to achieve these intense colors that almost transcend reality.  Quinn’s choice of using metallic paper for the printing process further enhances this technique.  Hdr is a technique that is rapidly gaining popularity in the photography world. Personally I think it’s often over used however, this is one case where I think it not only suits the images perfectly but enhances them.  When I received Quinn’s test prints I jumped for joy!  Okay maybe I just squealed a bit but if you knew me you would know I was excited. They truly are stunningly beautiful!

                                                                                          Sinking

In other news, CONTACT is about to invade Toronto.  If you’re not familiar with the event, CONTACT is a 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.  If you’re in the area, I encourage you to get out and see as many exhibits as you can.  You can check out all the happenings on the Contact website.  This year I’m pleased to announce that 2 of the photographers we showcase will be involved.  Darren Rigo’s work will be part of a showing at Drabinsky Gallery starting May 11th.  You can find out more about this exhibit on the Drabinksy Gallery website. Also, Kenneth Chou is curating a show for ArtHeart at Daniels OnePark West Presentation Centre from May 1–31, 2010 for more information go here.

AN INTERVIEW WITH ARTIST DARREN RIGO

In his series "Displacement" artist Darren Rigo challenges us to open our minds and view everyday objects in a new light.  By taking mass produced items most of us have used or purchased at one point in our lives and photographing them against nature he is asking us to appreciate them without their manufactured connotations and accept them as part of the landscape. Where did the idea for the series come from?  I recently had a chance to e-chat with Darren to find out more.

                                                                                 Displacement #18

Can you describe what your creative process is?  How do you come up with the idea for an image or series?
I’d call myself an ideas person. My mind is always wandering. My girlfriend hates it.  I write them down all over the place, on my phone, on sticky notes, in a sketchbook on my hand or whatever. Eventually one of them will get stuck in my head and I’ll start making it happen.  As far as creative process: I usually begin by working intuitively and then refine my ideas as I go.

How did you come up with the concept for the Displacement series?
Displacement sort of evolved out of chance sightings around the city when I saw a pair of children’s rubber boots tucked neatly against a subway hole and a digestive biscuit I saw placed squarely on the outside edge of a café windowsill. Random, I know.  Another funny thing was that while shooting Displacement I coincidently happened upon no less than three balloons that had floated down and got caught in the forests.

                                                                                   Displacement #19

How did you decide what objects/materials you would use in each location?
Some of them look quite simple yet I can imagine how hard it must have been to get some of the objects in just the right place. Ex. The red balloons & Christmas balls on top of the frozen pond. I bought any objects that interested me for their aesthetic qualities and I scouted locations I thought would suit the material. I’d then experiment with that material in the spot and wait for the best light to photograph it in. It doesn’t always work out though. For every image that made it, at least two others got cut, not to mention the ones that I didn’t bother to photograph.

            I Don't Want to be Part of This by Guido Van Der Werve

Who are your influences?
It’s hard to say. I could list off a bunch of other artists who make similar work but right now I’m into Guido van der Werve and Scott Conarroe.

                   Trailer Park, Wendover UT, 2008 by Scott Conarroe

What do you hope that the viewer takes away from your work?
People view my work and interpret it on many different levels and different angles. I’m fine with that; I think its what makes art interesting. So in the end I just hope they take something.

What are you working on right now? What can we look forward to from you in the future?
I’m just finishing up printing my thesis work Domestic Wilderness at OCAD. I’ll be showing it at the OCAD Grad Show, Drabinsky Gallery and Xpace all in May.

                                                                                      Displacement #16

If you're as much in love with Darren's work as we are you can purchase limited editions of Displacment #18 & Displacement #19 on our site. Good luck with your shows Darren and thanks for chatting!

PHOTO GROUPING OF THE DAY

                                       Ted Yarwood for House & Home

This grouping is a perfect example of how framing a small piece of artwork with a large mat can add drama to the piece and make it look more important. It's also a great tip for making a small piece fit in a large space.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

  
This is one of my favorite images by Australian artist Sarah Brown.  Titled Quietly, it's mood says just that. Can't you just feel it?  A hot summer's eve. A swim in the lake just before sunset when everything is still & calm! I'm excited to announce that we will be featuring 2 images by Sarah in an upcoming release.  Stay tuned!

PHOTO GROUPING OF THE DAY

                Margo Austin Interiors

While I certainly wouldn't recommend hanging your fine art photographs in high humidity areas like a bathroom, it's fine for everyday prints or perhaps family pics that you can always duplicate.  I personally love artwork in a bathroom & in fact have photographs in my ensuite.  In this case this grouping of 6 black & white prints is perfect in the corner of this charming little bathroom. How do you feel about hanging photographs in a bathroom?  Would you or wouldn't you?