EXHIBIT
What: Dwelling: A Local Photography Exhibition
Where: Bastion Square
When: Saturday, 10 to 11 p.m.
Admission: Free
Burned-out neon signs. Crumbling mid-century concrete. A dead mouse.
These images aren't prime candidates for glossy tour books about Victoria. But slotted into Dwelling, an outdoor photography exhibition about the capital region's forgotten, hidden and overlooked landscapes, the gritty snapshots fit right in.
One of the 150 Celebrate Victoria events - which honour the city's sesquicentennial - the hour-long slideshow in Bastion Square is the brainchild of Tara Nicholson, a photographer who teaches at the Vancouver Island School of Art and the University of Victoria.
Earlier this year, with a grant from the city, she put out a call for submissions for "young or emerging" local artists.
"I was a little worried about what these images were going to be, postcard-perfect images," she said, "but people have done a ton of work to produce these really interesting images.
"Some are really rural-based, and others are much more urban."
Contributors, she added, ranged from post-secondary art students to older amateurs.
"This one woman who's quite a bit older, she sent all of these images from a secret garden in Colwood."
Saturday's event actually marks Dwelling's second showing in Bastion Square. The first took place July 14.
That night, despite cool weather, the space was bustling with activity. Several dozen people, including a few children, watched the slideshow intently.
Violinist Kytami and guitarist Dallin Paul duelled to provide a creepy, often swelling soundtrack - fitting accompaniment for the images. (This time, jazz saxophonist Noah Becker will be Paul's musical foil.)
"The idea of having an outdoor projection is great because artists don't need to print their work and it's free for them," Nicholson said. "It's public and a great summer event." [email protected]
