Explore the latest in photography at this year’s SPARK Photo Festival

Seventh annual photo festival featuring 40 exhibits takes place during April across the Kawarthas

The front cover of the 2019 SPARK Photo Festival catalogue demonstrates one of the photographic trends of this year's festival. Using image-editing software, Laura Berman meticulously paints over sections of a captured image pixel by pixel, creating a fusion of photography and painting. Berman's work will be on display at The Old Oriental Hotel in Castleton, with a reception on April 6, 2019. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
The front cover of the 2019 SPARK Photo Festival catalogue demonstrates one of the photographic trends of this year's festival. Using image-editing software, Laura Berman meticulously paints over sections of a captured image pixel by pixel, creating a fusion of photography and painting. Berman's work will be on display at The Old Oriental Hotel in Castleton, with a reception on April 6, 2019. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)

The SPARK Photo Festival is back for its seventh year for the month of April.

Founded in 2013 by Robert Boudreau, Bill Lockington, and Micky Renders, the annual celebration of photography and of those behind the camera lens has quickly grown to become one of Ontario’s preeminent photography festivals, with exhibits and events in locations throughout Peterborough, Northumberland, and the Kawartha Lakes.

“Since the first festival in 2013, SPARK has germinated a total of 351 photographic exhibits, representing hundreds of photographers and over 8,000 photographic works,” festival director and photographer Robert Boudreau writes in his introductory message in the 2019 SPARK catalogue.

Robert Boudreau, who will be departing as SPARK's festival director after seven years, presents his "Let's Dance" individual exhibit at Hunter Street Books in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
Robert Boudreau, who will be departing as SPARK’s festival director after seven years, presents his “Let’s Dance” individual exhibit at Hunter Street Books in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)

“But this is simply the numbers. Festivals also radiate positivity, a sense of belonging and identity achieved through a shared experience. SPARK is a great experiment by local lovers of photography asking the question ‘What if…?’ What if we had a local photo festival?”

Boudreau — who will be departing as festival director after this year to pursue personal projects — goes on to say that “what if” question has also guided the festival’s activities since it was founded: from the 2013 exhibit of the Balsillie Collection of Roy Studio Photos at Peterborough Museum and Archives as selected by photographers, to using photography at last year’s festival to integrate newcomer youth into the community.

Boudreau also points out that this year’s festival reflects current and future photographic trends, many of which are driven by technological advances.

'Autumn Fence Lines', a photograph by Tim Bellhouse, whose featured exhibit "Close to Home" is on display at the Kawartha Art Gallery in Lindsay.  (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
‘Autumn Fence Lines’, a photograph by Tim Bellhouse, whose featured exhibit “Close to Home” is on display at the Kawartha Art Gallery in Lindsay. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)

While everyone now carries a digital camera in their pocket or purse and can widely share their photographs on social media, Boudreau notes that artificial intelligence is threatening to transfer creative control from the human to the machine. On the other hand, post-processing software allows photographers to more easily manipulate their images, providing the tools to fully realize their artistic vision.

Some photographers are eschewing digital cameras to return to film-based photography, while others are embracing instant photography for its visual artistry.

Another trend is what Boudreau calls “collaborative portraiture”, where the photographer collaborates with rather than directs the subject, as evidenced in one of this year’s exhibits: Heather Doughty’s “Inspire: The Women’s Portrait Project”.

One of Bill Lockington's photographs in his "Out of Africa" individual exhibit at the main branch of the Peterborough Public Library in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
One of Bill Lockington’s photographs in his “Out of Africa” individual exhibit at the main branch of the Peterborough Public Library in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)

As in previous years, this year’s festival features a wide range of featured exhibits, individual exhibits, group exhibits, community exhibits, and student exhibits.

The 2019 SPARK catalogue, pocket guide, and SPARK SPiN walking and cycling maps can be found at most exhibit locations, at Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism at VentureNorth, at the Art Gallery of Peterborough, and at other locations around Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

You can also visit the mobile-friendly SPARK website at www.sparkphotofestival.org.

Here’s an overview of what’s happening at this year’s festival:


Family Life 2019 Exhibit and 2018 SPARK Juried Exhibit Results

'Centre of Attention' by Tere Deslippe won first place in the 2018 SPARK juried exhibit entitled "Reflections". Results of the 2018 juried exhibit will be on display, along with photographs selected for the 2019 juried exhibit entitled "Family Life", at the Peterborough Public Library in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
‘Centre of Attention’ by Tere Deslippe won first place in the 2018 SPARK juried exhibit entitled “Reflections”. Results of the 2018 juried exhibit will be on display, along with photographs selected for the 2019 juried exhibit entitled “Family Life”, at the Peterborough Public Library in downtown Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)

The official launch of the 2019 SPARK Photo Festival takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 5th at the Peterborough Public Library (345 Aylmer St. N.), where this year’s juried exhibit takes place.

The 2019 juried exhibit theme, “Family Life”, is an invitation for photographers to look both inward and outward to define what family life means to them through their photographs. A panel of expert judges will select up to 30 images from all submissions to be printed, matted, and framed by SPARK for the exhibit. First, second, and third place awards along with the best in show award will be presented during the official launch.

The Peterborough Public Library will also host the results of the 2018 SPARK juried exhibit, which was entitled “Reflections”.

 

Best of High School Photography: 2018 Winners and 2019 Exhibit

Hayden-Grace Mann was awarded "Best in Show" for this photograph at the 2018 Best of High School Photography exhibit. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
Hayden-Grace Mann was awarded “Best in Show” for this photograph at the 2018 Best of High School Photography exhibit. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)

This year’s 2019 Best of High School Photography exhibit, entitled “Person, Place, Or Thing”, will be shown at Peterborough Alternative & Continuing Education at Peterborough Collegiate (201 McDonnel St., Peterborough).

A reception and awards presentation takes place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9th.

Along with the 2019 exhibit, the results of the 2018 exhibit will also be on display.

 

"Transcendent Sky" by Andy Christopher, part of his "Victoria Beach" featured exhibit at Alypsis Inc. in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
“Transcendent Sky” by Andy Christopher, part of his “Victoria Beach” featured exhibit at Alypsis Inc. in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
  • Andy Christopher at Alypsis Inc.
  • Absolute Eye Collective at City of Kawartha Lakes Gallery
  • Christopher Thorpe at The Natural
  • Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio (KAGS)
  • Peter Curley at Frameland Frame It For U Gallery
  • Nigel Dickson at Ah! Arts and Heritage Centre of Warkworth
  • Peggy and Walter Cracknell and Beverley and Paul Williams at Williams Design Studio
  • Heather Doughty and Katie Ellement at Art School of Peterborough
  • Geoff Fitzgerald at Colborne Street Gallery
  • Kathryn Grierson and Justin Sharp at Nancy’s Art & Framing Gallery
  • Roy T. Bowles at Douro Dummer Public Library Art Gallery
  • Tim Bellhouse at Kawartha Art Gallery

 

Individual Exhbitis

Educator, journalist, and activist Rosemary Ganley in Heather Doughty's Inspire: The Women's Portrait Project at VentureNorth in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
Educator, journalist, and activist Rosemary Ganley in Heather Doughty’s Inspire: The Women’s Portrait Project at VentureNorth in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
  • Barb Callander at Ashburnham Ale House
  • Robert Boudreau at Hunter Street Books
  • Bill Lockington at Peterborough Public Library
  • Heather Doughty at Venture North
  • Ken Powell at Peterborough Public Library
  • Laura Berman at The Old Oriental Hotel
  • Linda Cardona at Empress Gardens
  • Margaret Hamilton at Elmhirst’s Resort
  • Paul Hudson at Jo Anne’s Place Health Foods
  • Peter Hanmore at Cork and Bean Café
  • Patricia Calder at The Monaghan Café

 

Group Exhibits

One of the photos in the Kawartha Camera Club group exhibit at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
One of the photos in the Kawartha Camera Club group exhibit at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
  • Kawartha Camera Club at Peterborough Golf and Country Club
  • The Absolute Eye Collective at Wash-O-Mat Express
  • Garry Barker, Steve Brittain, Ralph Colley, and Jennie Versteeg at Bridgenorth Library
  • Peter Clute and Ann Hilborn at Canterbury Gardens
  • Michael Harris and Dianne Lister at Hobart’s Steakhouse
  • Peterborough Photographic Society at YMCA Balsillie Family Branch

 

Community Exhibits

International Jazz Day Peterborough is presenting the photography of Bill Lockington in the lobby of Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
International Jazz Day Peterborough is presenting the photography of Bill Lockington in the lobby of Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
  • Brain Injury Association Peterborough Region
  • Aspire Program: John Howard Society of Peterborough
  • International Jazz Day Peterborough presents the photography of Bill Lockington
  • YES Shelter for Youth and Families at Pappas Billiards

 

Student Exhibits

One of the photographs in the "Capture the Moment" exhibit by Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School Digital Photography Students at Brant Basics in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
One of the photographs in the “Capture the Moment” exhibit by Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School Digital Photography Students at Brant Basics in Peterborough. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
  • Thomas S. Stewart Secondary School: Digital Photography at Brant Basics
  • Thomas S. Stewart Secondary School: Film Photography at Nateure’s Plate
  • Brileigh Hardcastle at The Sapphire Room
  • David Bigg at Black’s Distillery
  • Cassandra DeFrancesco, Victoria Durrett, and Rishabh Sarswat at Trent Student Centre

 

SPARK Receptions

This photo of Bronson and Cole, a girl and her dog, is an ongoing collaborative effort between local photographers Katie Ellement and Heather Doughty. The photo forms the back cover of the 2019 SPARK Photo Festival catalogue. Doughty and Ellement's work will be on display at the Art School of Peterborough, with a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 12th. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)
This photo of Bronson and Cole, a girl and her dog, is an ongoing collaborative effort between local photographers Katie Ellement and Heather Doughty. The photo forms the back cover of the 2019 SPARK Photo Festival catalogue. Doughty and Ellement’s work will be on display at the Art School of Peterborough, with a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 12th. (Photo courtesy of SPARK)

Follow the links to the SPARK Photography Festival website for more information on each exhibit.

Tuesday, April 2

Wednesday, April 3

  • Roy T. Bowles (Douro Dummer Public Library Art Gallery, 7 to 8 p.m.)

Thursday, April 4

Friday, April 5

Saturday, April 6

Sunday, April 7

Tuesday, April 9

Wednesday, April 10

Friday, April 12

Saturday, April 13

Sunday, April 14

Monday, April 15

Wednesday, April 17

Thursday, April 18

Friday, April 26

Saturday, April 27

Sunday, April 28

Exhibits With No Reception