Throughout her career, Cole has worked internationally on commercial projects and has created several large-scale commissions, including an installation for the atrium at the M. Lau Breast Cancer Centre in Toronto’s Princess Margaret Hospital. Her series Underworld was exhibited at the Canadian Embassies in Tokyo and Washington, D.C.

Cole has won prestigious awards, including the Grand Prize at the Festival International de la Photographie de Mode in Cannes and third prize at the International Photography Awards in New York. In 2012, the acclaimed documentary series Snapshot: The Art of Photography II featured an episode devoted exclusively to Cole’s photographic practice, and her most recent book, Between Worlds, was published by teNeues in 2023.

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Which ’hood are you in?

Spadina Village

What do you do?

I’m a fine art photographer working both underwater and above since 1982

What are you currently working on?

Multiple projects, both in water and the studio

Where can we find your work?

Bau-Xi Gallery, both Toronto and Vancouver, Galerie de Bellefeuille in Montreal, Holden Luntz Gallery in Palm Beach and Art Angels in Los Angeles.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Toronto Photographer Barbara Cole appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

It was no surprise that she earned the Fine Arts Award at her high school graduation. She was dead-set on pursuing her passion post-secondary. She earned her BFA in Photography at OCAD University. Her thesis project, EveryTING Irie, was acquired by the Wedge Collection and is also held in the permanent collection of the Art Gallery of Ontario. Her work is also held in the permanent collections of TD Bank and the Robert McLaughlin Gallery.

Rooted in her Jamaican heritage and biracial identity, her work is ever-evolving. Never stagnant, always brimming with ideas, Christina knows the reality of the “starving artist” but continues to hustle (she’s had some interesting jobs over the years). She is constantly educating herself, researching themes, and developing techniques that are uniquely her own. She made photos out of physical sugar! She completed her MFA at the Savannah College of Art and Design during the pandemic. She has exhibited in major cities and respected institutions. And really, this just scratches the surface of what she’s done — you can always look her up to see more. She is represented by Stephen Bulger Gallery in Toronto.

-Written by L. Leslie

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Which ’hood are you in?

I wish I could say I live in some funky artist loft in the coolest part of town, but nope, I’m in Durham Region. For a while, I was back and forth between Hamilton and Durham, which turned into an extreme sport in commuting. Fun adventure, but exhausting. Now I’m back and settled in Pickering.

What do you do?

Well, I’m a lens-based artist and my practice is all about experimenting with history, memory, and Black diasporic stories, particularly through my Caribbean background. Over the last few years, I’ve been building on Sugar Coat, a project that started during my Master’s, where I use sugar to explore the legacies of the sugar trade. I also work with pinhole photography, making my own lenses and retrofitting them to my camera to create images about history, memory, and fragmentation.

I’ve also stepped into independent curating. I curated The Great Unseen at McMaster Museum of Art, which was such a cool challenge for me as an artist. I’m really proud of the exhibit. That experience made me want to keep curating alongside my art practice.

What are you currently working on?

Right now, I’m in the research and experiment phase of a new body of work that mixes textiles with photography. I’ve been dusting off my silk-screening skills and even experimenting with denim to see where that can go.

I’ve also had this big project idea in my back pocket for years. It would involve travel, photographing, and deep research, but it needs serious funding to happen. So at the moment, like most artists, I’m knee-deep in grant applications to try and make it real. Unless, of course, a rich benefactor shows up one day and says, “Here’s the money, just go make the work.” A girl can dream!

Where can we find your work?

A few places. My work is in the Wedge Collection, the AGO’s permanent collection, and the TD Bank collection. I’m represented by Stephen Bulger Gallery, and the team there is great about showing work in person if you book a visit. And if you’d rather browse online, you can always find me at www.christinaleslie.com or on social media, of course.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Toronto Photography Artist Christina Leslie appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

In 1999, Josh moved to Canada to pursue his photography studies at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University), where he honed his craft and refined his distinctive style. Through a unique lens, his immersive photographs focus more on evoking nostalgic and aspirational feelings, than on documenting a reality.

In the past 20 years, Joshua has mounted over fifty solo exhibitions at major galleries across North America and beyond. His work has been placed in numerous private and corporate collections including Microsoft, Maple Leaf, MasterCard International, Four Seasons, Target, Transcontinental, and Hilton Hotels, and has been featured in prominent publications, such as Art In America, Canadian Art, Globe and Mail, Toronto Life, House and Home, Fashion, and Elle Canada.

His large-scale works have also been showcased at leading art fairs, including Photo London, Art Toronto, Art Miami, Scope Miami, Art Palm Beach, Art New York, Art Chicago, and the San Francisco Art Fair.

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Which neighbourhood are you in?

When in the city, I live in West Queen West, close to all my favourite restaurants. My studio is in the Junction near the end of the rail path, so on nice days I can walk to work from my house. When not in the city, I spend my time on Lake Erie in the Niagara Region.

What do you do?

I’m a photographer and artist. I don’t do commercial shoots or client work; I prefer using photography as a means to create, and then I sell my work through art galleries. For some series, I layer a combination of techniques together, but primarily I use my camera to capture a feeling, with the intention of evoking emotion from the viewer. I produce everything in-house, and most of my work is large-scale, immersive pieces that pull you in.

What are you currently working on?

I’m always working on a few different bodies of work.

Right now, my Endless Summer series is probably the one people know me for most. It explores beachscapes captured from various vantage points and reflects on my childhood memories of summers spent surfing with my dad and just soaking in the sun. A lot of my shots are taken from helicopters, which gives me the perfect bird’s-eye view.

Another series I’m deep into right now is Sunsets and Fireworks. For this body of work, I start by shooting sunsets, print them large, then re-photograph them outside, setting off fireworks in their foreground. I’m trying to create something celebratory but with a sense of quiet reflection.

Where can we find your work?

This past February, I opened an exhibition at Bau-Xi Gallery in Toronto (1384 Dufferin Street), featuring pieces from my Endless Summer series. While that specific exhibition has wrapped, Bau-Xi Gallery continues to represent my work year-round, with a rotating selection from all of my series available for collectors to view anytime.

The post “A Day in the Life” with: Contemporary Artist Joshua Jensen-Nagle appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Insomnia, known for its unique blend of dining and culture, offers an eclectic atmosphere that supports local talent through its Artist Series. This initiative enriches Toronto’s cultural landscape by providing a platform for artists to showcase their work directly to the public.

Bedford, a fine art photographer and painter, mostly uses a vintage 35mm film camera, that he received when he was 15, to capture images that explore our relationship with the natural world. His new exhibition, “Light and Lack Thereof,” examines how light and darkness impact our emotions and perceptions.

“I’m interested in how we see ourselves in relation to the natural world and how this has changed over time,” Bedford says. His work invites viewers to consider how technology affects our connection to the earth and each other.

The exhibit debuts in partnership with The CONTACT Photography Festival, an annual city-wide event featuring exhibitions and public art installations in May. As part of the festival, Bedford’s work joins a broader conversation in the arts community, engaging both local and international audiences.

Event Details:

What: Opening Showcase featuring Michael Bedford’s “Light and Lack Thereof”
When: Sunday, April 13th, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Where: Insomnia Restaurant and Lounge, 563 Bloor St. West, Toronto, ON
Admission: Free
In Partnership with: CONTACT Photography Festival
Accessibility: Level access to entrance, accessible pathways, and washroom facilities available.

The exhibition will continue for several weeks, offering visitors the opportunity to experience and purchase Bedford’s work. This event is ideal for art enthusiasts, collectors, and those seeking an insightful cultural experience. Join Insomnia on April 13th for an evening that challenges perceptions and highlights the nuanced dialogues between light and shadow.

The post Michael Bedford’s “Light and Lack Thereof” Opens at Insomnia appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

The Genesis of Project T-Dot

Ajani Charles, a Toronto-based photographer, lauds hip-hop’s vibrancy and cultural significance through his works. The project, detailed on his website ajani.ca, highlights a rhythmic synthesis of sound, movement, and visual artistry unique to Toronto’s hip-hop scene.

The project began back in December 2006 and has continued ever since. Through connections, backstage visits, chance encounters and photography gigs in the scene, Charles has managed to capture significant milestones in the careers of artists like Drake, Shawn Desman and The Weeknd while also featuring culturally substantial individuals in the scene like Play Da Record’s Eugene Tam, 1 LOVE T.O.  and E-Talk’s Tyrone “T-rexxx” Edwards, and MuchMusic’s Master-T. The exhibit is not just about people but also organisations such as Hong Shing Restaurant, MuchMusic, Roots Rhymes Collective, The Circle, The Forgiveness Project, The Toronto Raptors, and Too Black Guys, all of which play a significant role in the cultural mosaic of Toronto’s hip-hop scene.

Through Charles’ lens, each black and white snapshot immortalises ephemeral and expressive moments, thus preserving hip-hop’s fluid narratives. Each photograph’s meticulous framing and timing indicate Charles’ deep understanding and respect for the culture and its participants.

The Exhibition Dynamics

What was introduced through an insightful display at City Hall has now transitioned into a similarly impactful and more interactive exhibition at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. The City Hall exhibit showcased 34 images featuring 60 participants, while the current exhibition at the airport boasts 60 vinyl prints capturing over 80 individuals. This expansion enriches the visual narrative and offers spectators a broad spectrum of the community’s artistic endeavours.

Some of my favourite images capture the lesser-publicised aspects of hip-hop, such as Graffiti and Breakdancing. Breakdance crews like Bag of Trix and Ground Illusionz, with members like Benzo, are featured in the imagery. Artwork from arguably Canada’s most well-known Graffiti writer, SKAM, is also featured.

Technological Integration

A standout feature of the current exhibition is the 55-inch touchscreen accompanying the displayed prints. This digital interface offers visitors detailed descriptions of the images, delving deeper into the backgrounds of the individuals and contexts depicted in the photographs. Further enriching the experience, a short film related to the exhibit continuously streams via this touchscreen. Through a partnership with PATTISON Outdoor Advertising, the film will be showcased across Toronto’s transit lines and the PATH this summer, making the exhibit of Toronto’s hip-hop scene accessible to a broader audience.

Highlighting Community Impact

Project T-Dot frames artistic expressions and signifies the influence of organisations that contribute immensely to the community. Initiatives like Honey Jam, The Remix Project, Operation Prefrontal Cortex, and Manifesto Community Projects play pivotal roles in nurturing and fostering talents within the hip-hop arena in Toronto.

The displayed images and the embedded stories illustrate the transformative power of such supportive networks in the lives of artists, who utilise these platforms to amplify their voices and skillsets in creative, constructive modes.

Short Film

In addition to the powerful visual narratives crafted through photography, Ajani Charles has produced a compelling short film that extends the narrative of Project T-Dot within the exhibition at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. The cinematic portrayal of the themes captured in the static images is embodied in the film, which delves into the making of the exhibition, offering behind-the-scenes clips of prominent figures featured in the photographs, including renowned personalities like Drake, Director X, and Eugene Tam. Viewers are treated to intriguing footage of the pictures being printed and prepared for display, providing a glimpse into the technical and creative processes involved.

Additionally, the film includes a short biography of Ajani Charles, shedding light on the creative mastermind behind the project and an introduction to the exhibition’s setup at the airport. Through these elements, the film outlines the background and history of the exhibit. It expands on its scope, offering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the cultural tapestry that Project T-Dot represents. It celebrates Toronto’s hip-hop culture through a multidimensional showcase.

Foreseeing the Cultural Trajectory

As Project T-Dot continues to woo and engage visitors at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport until 2025, its legacy is already taking shape. By capturing the raw, uncensored narratives of hip-hop, Ajani Charles doesn’t just document a subculture; he celebrates an evolving cultural revolution. These narratives’ ongoing and increased exposure, mainly through additional mediums like digital displays in public spaces and continuous looping short films, forecasts a robust dialogue about cultural diversity, artistic expression, and community dynamics.

Ajani Charles’ Project T-Dot transcends the traditional boundaries of a photo exhibit. The project serves as a cornerstone of cultural preservation and education by powerfully intertwining visuals with technology and heartfelt narratives within Toronto’s hip-hop community. It involves far more elements than is evidenced by the current exhibit, such as a coffee table book and a full-length movie that are currently in the works. This exhibition documents the evolving landscape of hip-hop and sets a precedent for future cultural documentation, underscoring the potent blend of art, technology, and community engagement.

This article encapsulates Project T-Dot’s vitality and impact, comprehensively covering this culturally significant exhibition.

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