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.
“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.
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”.
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
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
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.
Featured Exhibits
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Follow the links to the SPARK Photography Festival website for more information on each exhibit.
Tuesday, April 2
- International Jazz Day Peterborough Presents the Photography of Bill Lockington (Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, 7 to 9 p.m.)
- Bill Lockington (Peterborough Public Library, 5 to 7 p.m.)
- Ken Powell (Peterborough Public Library, 5 to 7 p.m.)
Wednesday, April 3
- Roy T. Bowles (Douro Dummer Public Library Art Gallery, 7 to 8 p.m.)
Thursday, April 4
- Michael Harris, Dianne Lister (Hobart’s Steakhouse, 7 to 9 p.m.)
- Heather Doughty (Venture North, 7 to 9 p.m.)
Friday, April 5
- SPARK Launch – 2018 SPARK Juried Exhibit Results (Peterborough Public Library, 6 to 9 p.m.)
- Christopher Thorpe (META4 Contemporary Craft Gallery, 6 to 10 p.m.)
- Peter Curley (Frameland Frame It For U Gallery, 5 to 8 p.m.)
- YES Shelter for Youth and Families (Pappas Billiards, 7 to 9 p.m.)
- David Bigg (Black’s Distillery, 7 to 9 p.m.)
Saturday, April 6
- Peggy abd Walter Cracknell, Beverley and Paul Williams (Williams Design Studio, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.)
- Laura Berman (The Old Oriental Hotel, 11 am to 4 p.m.)
Sunday, April 7
- Kawartha Artists’ Gallery and Studio (KAGS) (1 to 4 p.m.)
- Peggy and Walter Cracknell, Beverley and Paul Williams (Williams Design Studio, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.)
- Linda Cardona (Empress Gardens, 4 to 6 p.m.)
Tuesday, April 9
- SPARK Best of High School Photography: 2018 Winners, 2019 Exhibit (Peterborough Alternative and Continuing Education (PACE), 7 to 8:30 p.m.)
Wednesday, April 10
- Cassandra DeFrancesco, Victoria Durrett, Rishabh Sarswat (Trent Student Centre, 4 to 6 p.m.)
- Margaret Hamilton (Elmhirst’s Resort, 6 to 8 p.m.)
Friday, April 12
- Heather Doughty, Katie Ellement (Art School of Peterborough, 7 to 9 p.m.)
- Kawartha Camera Club (Peterborough Golf and Country Club, 5 to 8 p.m.)
- Paul Hudson (Jo Anne’s Place Health Foods, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.)
Saturday, April 13
- Brain Injury Association Peterborough Region (1 to 4 p.m.)
- Geoff Fitzgerald (Colborne Street Gallery, 2 to 5 p.m.)
- Tim Bellhouse (Kawartha Art Gallery, 2 to 4 p.m.)
- Barker, Brittain, Colley, Versteeg (Bridgenorth Library, 1 to 3 p.m.)
- Peter Clute, Ann Hilborn (Canterbury Gardens, 2 to 4 p.m.)
Sunday, April 14
- Christopher Thorpe (META4 Contemporary Craft Gallery, 2 to 4 p.m.)
- Kathryn Grierson, Justin Sharp (Nancy’s Art and Framing Gallery, 2 to 4 p.m.)
- Barb Callander (Ashburnham Ale House, 3 to 5 p.m.)
- Peter Hanmore (Cork and Bean Café, 3 to 5 p.m.)
Monday, April 15
- Absolute Eye Collective (Lindsay Kawartha Library, Artist Talk, 6:30 p.m.)
Wednesday, April 17
- Patricia Calder (The Monaghan Café, 4 to 6 p.m.)
Thursday, April 18
- Aspire Program: John Howard Society of Peterborough (6:30 to 8:30 p.m.)
- The Absolute Eye Collective (The Mount Community Centre, 7:30 p.m.)
Friday, April 26
- Heather Doughty, Katie Ellement (Art School of Peterborough, 7 to 9 p.m.)
Saturday, April 27
- Robert Boudreau (Hunter Street Books, 1 to 3 p.m.)
- Brileigh Hardcastle (The Sapphire Room, 6 p.m.)
Sunday, April 28
- Peterborough Photographic Society (YMCA Balsillie Family Branch, 1 to 4 p.m.)
Exhibits With No Reception
- Thomas S. Stewart Secondary School: Digital Photography (Brant Basics)
- Thomas S. Stewart Secondary School: Film Photography (Nateure’s Plate)
- Nigel Dickson (Ah! Arts and Heritage Centre of Warkworth)
