“Capturing Sound” Photographic Exhibit (March 21 – April 15th)
“Capturing Sound” the exciting Photographic Exhibition from photographer Ian Watson, curated by Orla Garriques, held at the BAND (Black Artists’ Networks In Dialogue) Gallery was first exhibited in 1997 at the legendary Cameron House in Toronto. The collection showcase musical scenes from some of the most notable local and international artist such as Divine Brown, Roy Ayers, LL Cool J, Femi Kuti and K’Naan to name a few.
Each photograph tells a vibrant and rich tale of not only a time and place, but conveys the feeling of the sound that transcends the image from which it was captured. Ian Watson began his photographic vocation at an early age, grade 10 where he enrolled in a creative photography class which led to a Humber College acceptance directly after high school.
This exhibit primarily showcases the photographer’s creativity with the 35mm film as the platform using the available light style to dually manipulate the ambience, yet being commanded by its availability. This gives the final product an organic and natural feel as the artist must construct and perceive the final image in his mind even before he engages the shutter. “With film I think of every shot before I take the picture; film in terms of quantity is not as in-exhaustive as digitally captured images.” Ian Watson
Ian was invited to attend many live music shows by major promoters such as Carlos Mondesier and Jonathan Ramos who appreciated the work and exposure at a time where digital photography was unheard of, and cell phones were phones, not a hybrid camera. This was also a time where the photographer was respected to capture artist in those smaller venues such as the Opera House, because they were very few of them. These were understood to be records of how fantastic the show had been and ultimately a narrative relevant to the archiving of a space, time, people and geography. This captured discourses in music and the progression of HipHop, Soul and R&B in the city of Toronto.
Curator, Orla Garriques has always been naturally attracted to the archiving of artifacts which continue to tell a story even in their silence. This exhibit, which is a remounting speaks to, not only the time that it was first showcase. It also speaks to the conditions that has changed around us, such as the growth of the artist, the exhibit itself, technology, the venues an the intimacy of the concert that does not exist any more. “In this body of work it really is about the performer, the moment and the vibe. This series demonstrates that it is a relationship between artist and subject and shows a beautiful fusion not only of photography and music but that of genres and styles that is conveyed by the black performer.” Orla Garriques. “This body of work shows that Ian was not only taking pictures but was creating something larger, this is authentic and the result is a body of work that speaks to masses.”
Capturing Sound Exhibit runs from March 21st to April 15th at the BAND Gallery & Cultural Space, 823A Bloor Street West (Between Christie & Ossington Stations)
For more information: www.blackartndialog.com
About Author: Khamal Murray is a major in Bioethics & Heath Studies at the University of Toronto and a blogger/writer with http://thejuxtapositionape.blog.com and a special contributor with Alternavox Magazine
[wpsr_facebook][wpsr_retweet][wpsr_plusone]