Did you do any of the other Contact stops? I used to enjoy doing the rounds and looking over the top of diners at the walls behind. Some fun venues, back in the day. It was a pleasure to walk with you virtually and see some of the work you saw! I look forward to your next phase. Remember to have fun and not take it too seriously!
Those few are the only Contact exhibits I have been able to get to this time. There don’t seem to be as many non-gallery locations this year which is unfortunate as I enjoyed visiting those too. It might be because Scotiabank stopped their funding for Contact a couple of years ago so it appears to be scaling back which is a shame.
Life’s too short not to have fun and I always try to not get too serious 🤪
With the banks making money hand over fist, it is depressing that they are not engaged in the social side. It used to be good fun to get the catalogue and go wander! I am sorry to hear that.
Lots of great art right there for the taking! I loved browsing the images.These names I did not know, but of course, Debbie Harry... who didn't have a crush on her?! Enjoy your time....
Thanks, William! I often forget how lucky we are to have so many great galleries here in the city. I just wish we could get some of the big exhibitions like the ones in other big cities. However, I can’t complain about what we do get. I appreciate your comments 🙏
Thanks for an enjoyable virtual tour of these exhibitions, Mark. Some fantastic works on show. I can see why Ms Lee's exhibition moved you so much. I knew of her work a little bit, but alas, I confess I haven't been following it as closely as I should have. Simply superb work. Thanks again. Oh, and I love your photo from outside the gallery! Enjoy your time away from the 'Stack, especially when indulging in film again 😎
Thanks, Ralph. I’m not leaving the ‘Stack just not doing weekly posts for a while. I will be doing other occasional posts though. Pleased you enjoyed this post and, hopefully, you’ll like the ones I have in mind for the future.
Wow, so many good exhibitions on your doorstep Mark, with names I'd not come across before apart from Mapplethorpe of course, who's work I love! Your mention of Debbie Harry as your teenage crush took me back to 1980 when I was at Hammersmith Odeon for her Heart of Glass tour, one of the best gigs I'd been to there! Also, thanks for introducing me to Carrie Lee - I hadn't seen her on Substack before - it looks a very powerful exhibition.
I really enjoy visiting exhibitions and when there's a festival on locally it so often inspires the creative process for me - it sounds like with your break and return to film photography you're going to have a very creative summer. Enjoy the rest and I'm looking forward to seeing the results!😊
Thanks, Lin. I’m envious that you saw Blondie in concert. That would have been a good one. I think you would really appreciate Clee’s Substack. She hasn’t posted for a while but there’s plenty to see in her archive.
I’m just taking a break from posting weekly so that I can free up some time for other less frequent posts. So, I’ll still be hanging out on here while I re-acquaint myself with film. Stay tuned.
That was such a rich wander through each gallery, Mark, and your reflections made each stop feel vividly alive. Debbie H was a huge crush for me too! Enjoy your break ... we all need to regularly hit that pause button now and then ... I know I couldn't do this writing thing without regular (sanity-saving!) breaks. Looking forward to more of your creative dabblings when you're ready to drift back in. 🙏💖
Fantastic Mark! This would be an over-the-moon ideal day for me! So glad you got to see Clee's images. What a wonderful article. I always liked Mapplethorpe's work. Every still a moving story. Thank you for sharing and enjoy your time away. ox
Thanks, Deborah. I love going to galleries and, luckily for me, there are some good ones here. I was really pleased to be able to see Clee’s exhibit. It was excellent.
I’m not really taking a break, just not posting my weekly blogs so that I can work on some other blog ideas.
I get giddy at the thought of a day at an art museum and/or photo exhibition! Clee’s work is so thoughtful. And I’m doing the same. I’m focusing on my short fiction piece. It’s quite a new and exciting journey.
Overall, I love that we have this headspace to dream and keep going doing what we love. In any capacity. Great work as always Mark! ox
Did you do any of the other Contact stops? I used to enjoy doing the rounds and looking over the top of diners at the walls behind. Some fun venues, back in the day. It was a pleasure to walk with you virtually and see some of the work you saw! I look forward to your next phase. Remember to have fun and not take it too seriously!
Those few are the only Contact exhibits I have been able to get to this time. There don’t seem to be as many non-gallery locations this year which is unfortunate as I enjoyed visiting those too. It might be because Scotiabank stopped their funding for Contact a couple of years ago so it appears to be scaling back which is a shame.
Life’s too short not to have fun and I always try to not get too serious 🤪
Thanks for stopping by, Søren!
With the banks making money hand over fist, it is depressing that they are not engaged in the social side. It used to be good fun to get the catalogue and go wander! I am sorry to hear that.
Maybe it will change if Contact gets new sponsorship 🤷♂️
How many years ago did Scotia bail?
They announced it in 2023 and the funding stopped after the 2024 festival, so two years ago.
Lots of great art right there for the taking! I loved browsing the images.These names I did not know, but of course, Debbie Harry... who didn't have a crush on her?! Enjoy your time....
Thanks, Juliette. The weekly post’s taking a break but I’m not. I’ll still be hanging out on Substack and sending out occasional posts.
I’m glad to hear that and also that you’re going to play with film! Excellent idea.
Thanks!
Thank you for sharing Mark. I would have little chance of seeing such a range of marvellous exhibitions where I live. You made my week.
Thanks, William! I often forget how lucky we are to have so many great galleries here in the city. I just wish we could get some of the big exhibitions like the ones in other big cities. However, I can’t complain about what we do get. I appreciate your comments 🙏
Thanks for an enjoyable virtual tour of these exhibitions, Mark. Some fantastic works on show. I can see why Ms Lee's exhibition moved you so much. I knew of her work a little bit, but alas, I confess I haven't been following it as closely as I should have. Simply superb work. Thanks again. Oh, and I love your photo from outside the gallery! Enjoy your time away from the 'Stack, especially when indulging in film again 😎
Thanks, Ralph. I’m not leaving the ‘Stack just not doing weekly posts for a while. I will be doing other occasional posts though. Pleased you enjoyed this post and, hopefully, you’ll like the ones I have in mind for the future.
Thanks for the gallery tour, Mark. I really enjoyed the selection you shared here.
Enjoy your hiatus - I will look forward to seeing your posts when you return!
Thanks, Todd. Much appreciated 👍🏻
Wow, so many good exhibitions on your doorstep Mark, with names I'd not come across before apart from Mapplethorpe of course, who's work I love! Your mention of Debbie Harry as your teenage crush took me back to 1980 when I was at Hammersmith Odeon for her Heart of Glass tour, one of the best gigs I'd been to there! Also, thanks for introducing me to Carrie Lee - I hadn't seen her on Substack before - it looks a very powerful exhibition.
I really enjoy visiting exhibitions and when there's a festival on locally it so often inspires the creative process for me - it sounds like with your break and return to film photography you're going to have a very creative summer. Enjoy the rest and I'm looking forward to seeing the results!😊
Thanks, Lin. I’m envious that you saw Blondie in concert. That would have been a good one. I think you would really appreciate Clee’s Substack. She hasn’t posted for a while but there’s plenty to see in her archive.
I’m just taking a break from posting weekly so that I can free up some time for other less frequent posts. So, I’ll still be hanging out on here while I re-acquaint myself with film. Stay tuned.
That was such a rich wander through each gallery, Mark, and your reflections made each stop feel vividly alive. Debbie H was a huge crush for me too! Enjoy your break ... we all need to regularly hit that pause button now and then ... I know I couldn't do this writing thing without regular (sanity-saving!) breaks. Looking forward to more of your creative dabblings when you're ready to drift back in. 🙏💖
Thanks Deborah. I think everybody had a crush on Debbie Harry 😍. She certainly looked divine in Mapplethorpe’s photo.
It shouldn’t be too long before I send out a new post but they won’t be coming out on a weekly basis for a while. We’ll see how it goes 🤞
Fantastic Mark! This would be an over-the-moon ideal day for me! So glad you got to see Clee's images. What a wonderful article. I always liked Mapplethorpe's work. Every still a moving story. Thank you for sharing and enjoy your time away. ox
Thanks, Deborah. I love going to galleries and, luckily for me, there are some good ones here. I was really pleased to be able to see Clee’s exhibit. It was excellent.
I’m not really taking a break, just not posting my weekly blogs so that I can work on some other blog ideas.
I get giddy at the thought of a day at an art museum and/or photo exhibition! Clee’s work is so thoughtful. And I’m doing the same. I’m focusing on my short fiction piece. It’s quite a new and exciting journey.
Overall, I love that we have this headspace to dream and keep going doing what we love. In any capacity. Great work as always Mark! ox
Thanks, Deborah. It’s definitely good to dream and do what we love. I wish you all the best with your work of fiction. ox
Thank you Mark! I just took a cuppa tea break from writing Chapter 5.
Let’s just never stop believing in what we love to do or dream to do. In the end it’s a saving grace to all the uncontrollable madness around us. ox