Studio Sixty Six’s new exhibit, ERUPT, a collection of photo series produced by graduates from the School of Photographic Arts in Ottawa, opened on Oct. 5.
The studio was a full house, as the works of Joyce Crago, Judy Morris-Dupont, Geneviève Labbé, and Katy Lopez were unveiled.
Studio Sixty Six’s mandate is to showcase new, emerging artists to help them build and develop their careers, according to Rose Ekins, the gallery’s curator. She said she chose these pieces to create a contrast between techniques and themes.
“All of the pieces are brand new, never-seen work from the artists,” Ekins said. “I can’t believe how easy it was to curate this show, everything just made sense together. The theme of introspection in Labbé and Dupont’s work touches on internal feelings and responses, while Crago and Lopez’s work looks out onto the world.”
Crago and Lopez’s work revolved around conflicts in the world today.
What does it mean to be male in 2016? explores masculinity and its portrayal in modern Canadian society. Crago’s pictures of semi-nude males attempt to challenge typical gender roles where females are usually the ones exposed.
Lopez’s work examines the controversy around the refugee crisis. They are portraits of people behind a thick layer of glass, to represent the division between Canadian society and the refugees, she said.
“I wanted my photographs to transmit compassion towards refugees. People are prejudicious towards them because we don’t know where and what they come from,” Lopez said. “I wanted to show they have feelings and stories just like all of us.”
Lopez said the work was inspired by her friend, who is also a refugee.
“I realized I didn’t know a lot about her life and wanted to learn more. [Canadians] see refugees on television and in the news, but don’t see them as individual people,” Lopez said.
Dupont’s series focuses on human emotions and experiences such as anger, remorse, and frustration. Labbé’s polaroid pictures reflect on her experiences with depression and self identity issues.
“When [Labbé] was going through a period of depression, she was taking photographs of the way the light would hit her walls every day. Her home became her workspace and her haven,” Ekins said.
“Her pieces are so minimal and simple on the surface, which I think is a common approach in photography, but the deeper you look at them it just has this punctum about it, something that makes something click inside,” she added.
Jasmine Sikand, a third-year Carleton journalism student, came to the exhibit to explore more of Ottawa’s art scene.
“I think art is so important and under-appreciated. I’ve always had a passion for it, and everything about this exhibit intrigued me,” Sikand said.
Sikand added that a portrait, titled “Jesse” from Crago’s series, What makes a man in 2016?, was the first thing to catch her eye in the studio.
“It’s so simple, but says so much. I don’t know who he is and I really don’t need to. I feel like I could know his story by just looking at him,” Sikand said. “It’s amazing and goes to show how much simplicity can really be complex.”
