The Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival is running until May 31, so we sent Richard Ryder, Eddie Stone and Nate Webster to check out the photographic magic.

Grounded – Richard Ryder

Now I want to make this perfectly clear. I am not a shrimper. I do not have a foot fetish, per se. But if we’re talking dancer’s feet…well. The arch of the foot. The strength in the toes. There aren’t enough words to describe the power and poetry of a dancer’s greatest tool. Thank God for Grounded. Aptly shown at the National Ballet School at 400 Jarvis Street, Grounded is a photographic love letter to those ten little piggies that help dancers float on air. Joel Benard chose to not only photograph the dancer’s naked feet, he took their portraits as well and hung them side by side. It’s makes for a haunting dichotomy of serenity and power in these paired pictures. Like a well used instrument, these feet have been used and abused. Every callous, bruise, cracked heel and dead toe nail (You know what I mean. That black toe nail everyone gets once and the only way to get rid of it is to let it grow out, only how do you let it grow out when you’re dancing on it every friggin day?! That one.) is juxtaposed to the face that shares the same body. It’s a startling comparison. The age and wear of the feet next to the youth and innocence of theses (almost) children’s faces. Except for Fransico. Go to this show, look at his pictures and tell me this man doesn’t have the most beautiful feet in the world! I almost question his ability as a dancer his feet are so nice. Dancer are hard on their feet. That’s the rule. The only difference between these artists and any professional athlete is that they don’t often get concussed. Don’t get me wrong, if a bitch step outta line, she get cut but there aren’t a lot of blows to the head in ballet. What was I talking about?

Grounded by Joel Benard is on display at the National Ballet School, 400 Jarvis St from May 4 – 29, M-F, 5-9pm

Colours, Lights, Places: A Journey In Photographs – Eddie Stone

“When I travel with a camera I’m not alone” –Dan Ambramovici

Travelling is one of my very favourite past times.  Exploring unknown lands, hearing strange tongues and tasting foreign foods.  Unfortunately, I don’t get to travel as much as I would like.  Enter photographer Dan Ambramovici.  I visited Dan and his Scotiabank Contact exhibit at a very popular neighbourhood coffee house called The El Almacen, at 1078 Queen St. W.

Ambramovici’s photos immediately sparked my travel imagination with his sometimes haunting and always vivid images taken in South America.  Browsing through the café, the visitor is taken on an exotic journey through a far away and mystical landscape.  From the shot of a ruined home in the forest, to the vast landscape shots of the countryside, Dan’s photos are nothing if not inspiring.  Inspiring to the traveller in me.  Inspiring to the people watcher in me.  Inspiring to the nature lover in me.

From the soaring mountains to the broken down villages and the cracked earth, Dan’s photos make for a unique travel experience like I’ve never had.

Bravo Dan!

Colours, Lights, Places: A Journey In Photographs by Dan Abramovici is on display at El Almacen Yerba Mate Cafe and Gallery at 1078 Queen St. W until May 31.

Fall and Implosions – Nate Webster

Are you ready to jump?

On Wednesday, May 4, 2011 I attended Fall and Implosions at the Alliance Francaise de Toronto – Gallerie Pierre-Leon. The exhibit examines the tension between human actions and their surroundings by bringing together the work of two French photographers, Denis Darzacq and Mathieu Pernot. Each series–in its own way–suggests fragile relationships between humanity and the environment.

As I made my first lap around the gallery I was haunted by the images surrounding me. A disturbing photograph of a man falling. His body inches from the ground. Buildings collapsing. Rubble cascading to the ground. Complete and utter destruction. I believe in artistic freedom, but on this particular afternoon I needed to lifted up, not brought down.

As I made my second lap around the gallery I decided to look at each piece differently. I cocked my head to the right, left, upside down almost. I was determined to pull a different message from each piece. Now, instead of a man falling, my perspective showed a man jumping.

The way I chose to view Darzacq and Pernot’s work made me feel as light as a feather. I gazed at each piece the way I look at life. Any given situation might appear bad, but all it takes is a slight shift of perspective to see a completely new picture.

The next time you feel like you’re falling, turn it upside down. Now you’re jumping.

Yes, I’m ready to jump.

Fall and Implosions by Denis Darzacq and Mathieu Pernot at the Alliance Francaise de Toronto – Gallerie Pierre-Leon at 24 Spadina Road.

Raw Memory – Eddie Stone

Having left the heart of Toronto to live in the west end this past winter, it would be an understatement to say that I am thrilled to be living steps away from so many galleries.  Not long ago I lived in a barren wasteland of culture; today I am surrounded by beauty.

I was able to get up close and personal to some of that beauty at Gallery 1313 on Queen Street West for the Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival.

Gallery 1313 is unassuming, tucked back from the street and easy to miss, that is, unless you know where you’re going.

The exhibit for Contact comprised of 2 groups of 15 artists showing their work at two different times.

The first group showed from April 27 – May 8 and comprised of Linda Briskin, Kye Marshall, L.E. Glazer, Peter Dewdney, Richard Lush, Christine Marshall-Smith, Chritian Badanjak, Randi Apple, Alex Coley, Deborah Kanfer, Nelly Akerman-Singer, Marvin Antonio, Kelly Lamorie, and Paulette Michayluk.

The second group shows from May 11 – May 22 and is comprised of Laura Horne, Tim Neesam, Paul Osadchuk, Thomas Hlavecek, Dennis Duncan, Anuta Skrypnychenko, Robin York, Keith Davidson, Wendy Jones, Jack Martin, Showwei Chu, Robert Teteruck, Roz Tepper, Robert Caspary, and Chris Blanchenot.

In the two installments, emerging and established photographers use both traditional and new media to explore how the mind perceives, translates and interprets the world through memory. The works range in style and subject matter, from the black and white nude lady stormtrooper by Chris Blanchenot to the run down theatre front by Robyn York.  One of my personal favourites was the back of an anonymous man’s head surrounded by video cameras, very paparazzi, captured by photographer Robert Teteruck.

Photography helps humankind record events and solidify memory.

Real memory recalls experience; digital memory perceives and records.

In the space between lies Raw Memory.

First off, our latest Man Of The Hour has the most gorgeous eyes. Melty McMelt. You might recognize the award-winning filmmaker from various TV projects, but these days Dan Abromovici is now expanding his ‘everywhere’ status, debuting at CONTACT 2011.  We asked him to take our TMI Questionnaire (averting our eyes, shyly, from his):

JUST THE FACTS

I’m a Taurus

I’m: 28

I was born: April 24 1982

I’m a: Actor, Photographer, Film maker

My fave colour: Blue

Passion: Travel

Fantasy entourage: A group of trained otters

Turn-ons: Sense of humour

Irresistible in a mate: PHD

Phrase I most overuse: “Not the lips!!”

Most people would be surprised to know I: know the lyrics to most Depeche Mode songs.

Fictional best friend: He’s not fictional. He’s Jackie Chan.

Talent I wish I had: Any musical ability what so ever

When I order a cocktail I ask for: Gin and Tonic (… started drinking it because of the Oasis song. Should that have been my shameful secret?)

GUILTY PLEASURES

TV: Pro Wrestling

Song: “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls

Greatest extravagance: I have a hammock chair in my living room. Its useful.

WEAR APPARENT

Jeans: Castro

Footwear: Converse sneakers and Blundstone boots

Watch: iPhone

Eyewear: Lasik

Casual: Castro, Hurley, and an assortment of T-Shirts

Formal: Castro

Perfume / Cologne: Antonio Banderas‘ Seductive (so happy this was a question!!!)

BEAUTY DUTY

Shampoo: Changes all the time

Face wash: Don’t use

Moisturizer: Don’t use

Body Lotion: Don’t use

Indulgence: Haircuts at Toni and Guy

GOTTA GETTA GADGET

Gadgets: iPhone, PS3, Surround Sound speakers. Looking forward to PSP 2. Am a nerd. A huge big nerdy nerd. Did I mention my Guitar Hero pyjamas? Sorry.

On my music player now: TV On The Radio is playing right friggin now.

I always PVR: Breaking Bad, BBC Nature Shows, Ricky Gervais

CULTURE VULTURE

Last book read: Life by Keith Richards

Last movie seen: MacGruber

Last concert: Gorillaz

Last play: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Note to self: See more live theatre)

OBSESSIONS

Current obsession:  My puppy Schnitzel

Past obsession: Fantasizing about having my own puppy

Future obsession: Going somewhere warm. Learning to surf

CRYSTAL BALL

The next big thing will be: I wish I could look up past my upcoming gallery. Its all consuming.

AND FINALLY …

Words of wisdom: Find your happy

Award winning film maker Dan Abramovici’s Colors, Lights, Places debuts at Contact 2011.

Photo: Dan Abramovici

Glen Baxter may be better know as the host of CTV’s IN FASHION, and reporter for the Fashion Television Channel, but give the guy a camera and his true artistry shines.

I had the pleasure of attending a photo exhibit for the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival, Pervasive Influence.

Walking into the Hugo Boss store on tony Bloor Street, I’m met with sideways glances from pinched-faced employees.  Ignoring them, I follow the signs to the exhibit located up up and up on the third floor.  Climbing the stairs reminds me to get back on the stair master at the gym, but the climb is worth it, because the photos are raw and real.

For this exhibit, Glen Baxter travelled to Azerbaijan, a former Republic of the USSR that is affected by war, conflict and border disputes.  These are a population of people displaced from their homes, living in virtual exile and the photos reflect their struggles and their strengths.

Glen has captured the subjects in raw and real moments of their day to day lives.  The faces staring back have a story on the lips, a story of the juxtaposition of hard living amongst a fairy tale landscape.  The hard lines that crease the people’s faces betray the hope and passion in the eyes.

P.S.  Passion’s what I felt leaving the exhibit, but passion isn’t what was to be found in the eyes of the Hugo Boss employees.  What was with employees motioning to each other as I came and went from the exhibit.  Really? Secret hand gestures?.

Perhaps they were giving the “all-clear” that I in fact was not shoplifting (thanks!), but truly attending the exhibit.  All I could think was a famous line from AbFab: “You only work in a shop, you know.  You can drop the attitude.”

* The Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival continues to support RIGHT TO PLAY, a leading international humanitarian and development organization to build essential skills in children using the power of sport to transform communities affected by war, poverty and disease. A wonderful cause indeed!

So, it’s the Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival and I’m thumbing through their festival guide, like you do, when I came across something that caught my eye. Well, I couldn’t miss it actually because it was a picture of a bald man and the glare from his forehead was a little blinding. Nice Head…The Bald Man Project was the name of the show and Rob Allen was the photographer. That’s all I needed to know. Actually, they had me at Nice Head, but I digress. Bald men are sexy! Jason Statham and most of the UFC are prime examples of that so off I toddled to The Bald Man Project. I toddled because as you know, I’m working out with G-Force Training and a good swift toddle burns more calories and uses more muscle than just your average walk. I’m all about the toddle, people! So I finally get to the exhibit and nothing. Well, not nothing. There were a bunch of people milling around like they were at an art showing; drinks in hand, bored stares, but no photos. No art of any kind was on any of the walls…not even a brightly coloured memo. It was odd. There was no one of any authourity, no Scotiabank Contact signs anywhere. It was like there was an art show going on without the art. Then I noticed something. Everyone milling around had hair! Even the women! Thick, gorgeous, bouncin’ AND behavin’ locks. Maybe the Bald Man’s Project wasn’t for bald men! Maybe it was for people with a full head of hair so they could better appreciate what they have and pity those that are obviously being punished by The Lord. And then maybe they saw me, a big ol’ bald girl, toddlin’ their way and they panicked. They took down all the pictures so as not offend me, the follically challenged, and then went out of their way not to notice me. I’m a big girl people. I’m kinda difficult not to notice! All I could do was put my hat back on and head (pardon the pun) for the door. But I swear, just before my hat was back on my head, I heard a camera go click.

From The Persuasion Of Men

Having a huge love for contemporary art and viewed various exhibitions all over North America, I’m pretty critical and cynical when it comes photography. Whether I was viewing AA Bronson’s work at The Power Plant or posing for Spenser Tunick during his Nude Adrift Tour in Montreal back in 2001, an artist has to “wow” me in under two minutes or I leave.

As Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival, the month-long photography fest, rolled around I decided to see what the noise was about. However, when I heard Drasko Bogdanovic , who also shoots for FAB Magazine, was exhibiting I had to stop by. Located in Grasp Erotica Bar which shares the same space as the St. Marc’s the art snob in me kicked in, and automatically began to dislike it. So without even seeing Bogdanovicwork it was going to be hard to impress me. He did with his exhibition “Persuasion Of Men”. One would expect sharing space with a bathhouse, his photos would be riddled with dick shots and men with the asses splayed open. It doesn’t.

Bogdanovic’s work is actually innocent and gives you the impression that most of the guys (some who are hetro) are easily approachable. Yes there is the odd cock shot however it’s done with a purpose not just there for titillation. The most interesting aspect of his work are the facial expressions he was able to bring out in his models, which includes the artist as well. Through his lens he captured a hidden eroticism mixed with a softness in some of his models. Where in others you can see the unleashed sensibilities ranging from playful to naughty. My favourite photo is actually of Bogdanovic himself. The photo has him standing in front of soft car headlights with his erect penis out but not with the usual “come fuck me porn face”. He conveys  a feeling that is reminiscent of a warm summer night, while walking through an almost empty parking lot, except for that one car which you can’t ignore.

In conjunction of with the opening of his exhibit he was launching a coffee table book by the same name. If you ask him why he didn’t use the gay cliche muscle boys he will humbly tell you, “I’m tired of it. I wanted regular guys as some of the guys are straight.” Straight or not Pesuasion of Men is definitely worth a peek at and runs from May 7-20th. The photos are for sale and range from $200 framed to $150 unframed.

This past weekend I decided to venture out to one of the ‘Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival’s’ open exhibits in Toronto. I hadn’t really been paying that much attention to the press releases that had been coming my way but one of them caught my interest because the exhibit called was entitled ‘Porn Candids: Between the Shots.’

Now, I’ve never in my life been a fan of pornography or pornographic imagery – I always think it’s so contrived and fake. Not to mention the fact that I’d rather be participating in what’s going on rather than just playing ‘jack the willy’ as some perverted voyeur.

So why did I decide to go? The exhibit was entirely comprised of photographs taken of people working in the pornography industry, but after the director (or pornographer) yells ‘cut,’ – making the images totally non-composed and natural.

Being a candid photographer myself I was instantly intrigued, and after viewing the rest of the event information on Contact’s website I made up my mind to go to the opening.

Arriving at the exhibit’s venue – I was warmly greeted by Anna, who is partnered to George, and together they own Northbound Leather, one of the most respected leather garment and consensual play businesses in the country.

After quick introductions Anna left me to talk to the exhibit’s photographer- Morpheous.

Morpheous has a very engaging personality and is very pleasant to speak with. He starts taking me around on a personally guided tour of his exhibit and as we continue moving through Northbound Leather’s store I can’t help but notice that more and more of the exhibit’s attendees are starting to follow us around the store to hear the rather unusual stories of how some of the portraits came to be.

Now, I’m not going to sit here and tell you about every photograph in the exhibit because of two reasons:

1. I’d be here forever, and
2. The whole reason I’m writing this is to get you to go out and enjoy this spectacular exhibit.

What I do want to do though is share the stories behind two of the photos that I found particularly interesting both visually, and from how Morpheous described how they went down.

This particular photo I I really liked because everyone in it is really enjoying themselves and having a great time – you just really want to know what the story is.

Morpheous explained to me that the photo was shot here in Toronto during the video shoot for ‘Desperate Housewives in Bondage,’ which was nominated for an AVN Award this year. Morpheous goes on to explain that it was shot in Velvet Sky’s home (the lady with the towel) and just prior she had been tied to the post behind her and stretched across the counter while “Maxine X used the Hitachi Magic Wand Vibrator on her until she squirted ALL over her kitchen countertop. She was used to squirting but not as much as she did and it shot about 6′ away from her…” Subsequently a towel was tossed to Velvet Sky and she started cleaning up her counter and howling with laughter manages to announce “I guess this is cleanup on aisle #4.” Which inspired it’s name – ‘CleanUp on Aisle No. 4.’

The other photo I wanted to share from Morpheous` exhibit (my personal favorite) was entitled ‘Metal Fingers’ and is a pretty graphic depiction of one of the more popular name’s at the moment in the porn industry – Sam Swift, getting pegged by a chick with a strap-on.

The set-up for this image, shot during filming for a step by step instructional called ‘How to Peg Boys for Girls’ involves Archean, the woman with the punk-esque expression, volunteering to be the ‘table’ that Sam Swift bends over to get pegged by the other woman.

Morpheous explained to me later re-passing by this photo that the woman doing the pegging was a strap-on virgin and didn’t know that you couldn’t just jam it inside a dude – Sam was unpleasantly surprised, snapped back and up – proceeding to yelp - Who doesn’t love the idea of doing Sam Swift though?

All in all, I’d say that this particular exhibit was definitely worth the time, especially with such comical stories attached to the images – every one of them also for sale in museum archival quality print.

Morpheous` exhibit  for the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival will be on display until May 31st at Northbound Leather at 9 St. Nicholas St. in Toronto – highly recommended.

SERIAL SEAN
xo