Image detail of Mater Dolorosa (Angela), 2017 by SPAO alum Olivia Johnston
SPAO’s College Graduates Achieve Great Things
Since its inception in 2005, SPAO graduates have accomplished incredible things. SPAO alumni have shown their work in every major gallery in Ottawa, as part of the CONTACT Photography Festival in Toronto, in art fairs across the world, and in countless exhibitions locally, nationally, and globally. Our graduates are represented by galleries in Canada, the United States, and internationally.
The work of SPAO alumni exists in public and private collections all over the world, in particular with a huge number of artworks in the collection of the City of Ottawa. Their work has won awards and prizes, including those sponsored by the National Gallery of Canada, the Canadian Photography Institute, RBC, Scotiabank, Harmon, the Prix de Paris, Figureworks, and Applied Arts.
Our alumni have been featured by VICE, CBC, LensCulture, Black and White Magazine, SHOTS Magazine, National Geographic, and more. Our alumni have published books, founded a magazine, won municipal, provincial, and federal grants, have worked with international embassies, and more.
Share your achievements with us.
If you are a SPAO alumni and would like to share your achievements with us, please complete the News + Event Submission Form below. We’ll share your achievements with the SPAO community. For questions or concerns, please message our Digital Content Coordinator at connect@spao.ca.
Image from previous Open House by Eric Reid
Photo by SPAO alum Christine Fitzgerald
February 2024
VANISHING
Vanishing explores our relationship with nature with themes of extinction, impermanence and loss. Inspired by photography pioneers, the exhibition considers historical museum specimen collections from the current perspective of the Anthropocene epoch.
Vanishing links technologies from the past and present, science and art, and promotes an awareness of the planet's ecological precarity.
Photo by SPAO alum Magida El-Kassis
January 2024
SPAO ALUM MAGIDA EL-KASSIS FT. IN WA MAGAZINE
Magida El-Kassis is a photographer residing in Toronto, Ontario. She has been exploring the self-portrait for over a decade, looking closely at the evolution of herself.
Photo by SPAO alum Whitney Lewis-Smith
November 2023
THE OVERVIEW SOLO SHOW
The Overview by SPAO alum Whitney Lewis-Smith was exhibited at Galerie St-Laurent + Hill.
Photo by SPAO alum Chris Schmitt
October 2023
CAPTURING THE FLATS
Two images from Christopher Schmitt's series Capturing the Flats have been selected for Artdoc Photography Magazine's online exhibition Healing Nature.
Inspired by Sternfeld's photographs of the High Line, Schmitt's work explores the complex interplay of untamed nature and urban development in Ottawa's LeBreton Flats, emphasizing the dynamic struggle between nature's dogged reclamation of the land and the encroachment of urbanization.
Photo by SPAO alum and previous A.I.R. Ava Margueritte
September 2023
HEAVEN MUST BE LIGHT
This exhibition, held at Wall Space Gallery, maps the resurfacing of grace, beauty, and vulnerability within ourselves as we navigate our shifting identities through teenage years into adulthood.
Photo by SPAO alum and Artist-in-Residence Kelly McDonald
August 2023
KELLY MCDONALD - HONOURABLE MENTION
Kelly McDonald has received honourable mention in the Professional Series - Open Theme of the 20th Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Women Photographers.
Photos by SPAO alum Dion Prints
July 2023
DION PRINTS IN 83 'TIL INFINITY & REST
Dion Prints' series titled Journey was available to view at the Ottawa Art Gallery for the exhibition 83 ‘til infinity. This exhibition focused on stories and experiences of hip-hop in the Ottawa–Gatineau region that flow from decades-long conversations about the craft and values of hip-hop's five pillars: breaking, emceeing, DJ-ing, graffiti, and knowledge.
Additionally, Dion's series Warriors was showcased at the Ottawa Art Gallery's exhibition titled Rest.
Photo detail by SPAO alum Camille West
June 2023
CAMILLE WEST ON THE SAM LAPRADE SHOW
Camille West spoke about her pet portraits on The Sam Laprade Show and shared her passion for photographing dogs and capturing the unique personalities of each furry companion. Camille also offered a glimpse into the fascinating world of K-9 photoshoots, unveiling the behind-the-scenes process that brings these delightful portraits to life.
Untitled 03 by S. Maria Brandt
April 2023
S. MARIA BRANDT DEBUTS EXHIBITION IN TORONTO
Maria Brandt exhibited her work at the Cedar Ridge Studio Gallery in Toronto (Scarborough).
In "Installation 50% – A meditation on the Perishable / Photography and Epoxy Resin Objects", Brandt's work connects food waste to global issues like climate change, economic disruption, and hunger.
Olivia by SPAO alum Christine Fitzgerald
November 2022
SPAO ALUM CHRISTINE FITZGERALD HONOURED AS A FINALIST AT FIGUREWORKS 2022
There were many SPAO alumni and community members honoured at the 2022 Figureworks Awards, selected from over 182 entries from 118 artists across Canada! SPAO alum Christine Fitzgerald was honoured as a finalist for her work Olivia (seen above).
Photo detail by SPAO alum Stéphane Alexis
October 2022
SPAO ALUM STÉPHANE ALEXIS EXHIBITES WORK AT THE WORKMAN ARTS OFFSITE GALLERY IN TORONTO
SPAO College Diploma Program alum Stéphane Alexis exhibited his series Crowns and Chains at the Workman Arts Offsite Gallery in Toronto. This series depicts the historical, political, scientific, and psychological impact of Black Hairstyles on society and the people who wear them.
Photo detail by SPAO alum Barbara Brown
September 2022
SPAO ALUM BARBARA BROWN IS EXHIBITING IN GROUP SHOW SOWING THE FUTURE
SPAO alum Barbara Brown exhibited in a group show about women farmers engaged in sustainable farming practices in the Ottawa / Outaouais Region, titled Sowing the Future.
Photo detail provided by Do It For The Grain
July 2022
SPAO ALUM JENNIFER STEWART NAMED GUEST CURATOR FOR LATEST ISSUE FOR DO IT FOR THE GRAIN ZINE
SPAO alum Jennifer Stewart was named Guest Curator for the local analog photography zine Do It For The Grain.
Photo detail by SPAO alum Dion Prints
August 2022
SPAO COLLEGE DIPLOMA STUDENT DION PRINTS EXHIBITING AT THE OTTAWA ART GALLERY
SPAO alum Dion Prints had three bodies of work included in the Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG’s) group show How I Love You.
Photo detail by SPAO alum Margo McDiarmid
July 2022
SPAO ALUM MARGO MCDIARMID PUBLISHED BY THE CBC
SPAO alum Margo McDiarmid published a story in the CBC highlighting the small teams of Canadian doctors, nurses, and paramedics helping to treat refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine. Titled Turf wars, thieves and disaster tourists: Life at a Canadian field clinic on Poland-Ukraine border, this article takes readers into the heart of the conflict, focusing on the individuals caught in the crossfire. Speaking to translators, refugees, doctors, and others, Margo's story is an impactful and devastating read.
Photo detail from The Archangel Gabriel (Cara) by SPAO alum + Operations Manager Olivia Johnston
June 2022
SPAO DIPLOMA PROGRAM ALUM + OPERATIONS MANAGER OLIVIA JOHNSTON WAS INTERVIEWED BY NOSY MAG
SPAO alum Olivia Johnston was interviewed by Nosy Mag, an arts and culture platform based in Ottawa-Gatineau!
"Olivia Johnston’s photo-based art captures exactly this strange and beautiful sense of what it means to be a living, breathing, creature, existing on this planet." - writer Andrew Kellie.
Photo detail from Flower Pot, Art Bank by SPAO alum Joyce Crago
June 2022
JOYCE CRAGO'S WORK IS FEATURED IN THE OTTAWA ART GALLERY EXHIBITION
Industrial Geometry explored the relationship between the artist and the cityscape. Artist interactions with the industrial, geometric, and everyday are examined through angular forms, colour, and storytelling.
Photo detail by SPAO Diploma Program alum Christine Fitzgerald
June 2022
CHRISTINE FITZGERALD HAS ARTWORK COMMISSIONED FOR THE NATIONAL OCEAN FESTIVAL
SPAO alum Christine Fitzgerald was one of several artists across Canada commissioned for the creation of an art piece for the National Ocean Week + Ocean Festival debut this July. Fitzgerald also took part in a virtual artist talk to discuss working with historical photographic technologies and her advocacy surrounding endangered marine wildlife.
Photo by SPAO alum Angelina Barrucco
June 2022
ANGELINA BARRUCCO SELECTED AS SPECIAL GUEST ARTIST FOR THE OAG’S CREATIVE SUNDAYS
SPAO alum Angelina Barrucco was selected as a special guest artist for the June 26th edition of the Ottawa Art Gallery’s Creative Sundays programming.
Karen (Right) is from the series The Witches Among Us and Protection (Left) is from the series The Dominican College
June 2022
LEAH MOWERS RECEIVED HONOURABLE MENTIONS AT THE 18th JULIA MARGARET CAMERON AWARDS
SPAO alum Leah Mowers received Honourable Mentions in both the "Abstract & Still Life Through Black & White" and the "Self Portrait Through Women Seen By Women" categories in the Non-Professional Section of the 18th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards for Women Photographers.
Photo from Self-Portrait series by Victoria Laube
June 2022
VICTORIA LAUBE RECEIVED AN HONOURABLE MENTION AT THE 18th JULIA MARGARET CAMERON AWARDS
SPAO alum Victoria Laube received an Honourable Mention for her series in the Non-Professional Section of the 18th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards for Women Photographers in the ”Self Portrait” category.
(Left) Self-portrait of Ava Margueritte, (Right) detail by Ava Margueritte
June 2022
AVA MARGUERITTE RECEIVES HONOURABLE MENTION AT THE 18TH JULIA MARGARET CAMERON AWARDS
SPAO alum Ava Margueritte received Honourable Mention in the "Self Portrait Through Women Seen By Women" category in the Non-Professional Section of the 18th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards for Women Photographers.
Photo detail by SPAO Diploma Program alum Angelina Barrucco
May 2022
ANGELINA BARRUCCO WINS PROJECT X PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD
SPAOalum Angelina Barrucco was the 2022 recipient of the Project X, Photography Award. She was awarded for her photo-based project Portraits in a Time of Social Distancing.
For the first time ever, all three finalists were SPAO alum, with Barrucco being one of the first students of SPAO's Diploma Program! Stéphane Alexis and Ava Margueritte were the other 2022 Project X Awards finalists.
Chimera Fukinagashi Bonsai, 2021 by SPAO alum Whitney Lewis-Smith, courtesy of Bau-Xi Gallery
May 2022
SPAO ALUM WHITNEY LEWIS-SMITH IS FEATURED IN THE 2022 CONTACT PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL
SPAO alum Whitney Lewis-Smith had an exhibition at the 2022 CONTACT Photography Festival.
Installation view of THIS/THAT with Victoria Laube
April 2022
VICTORIA LAUBE IS EXHIBITING A NEW SERIES
SPAO alum Victoria Laube exhibited her photography series at MERA Schoolhouse! Titled THIS/THAT, her series of 35 photographs taken over the past several years were shown compressed between wood and encaustic medium.
PhotoED Magazine Winter 2021/2022 cover, photos by SPAO alum Stéphane Alexis
December 2021
SPAO ALUMNI, STÉPHANE ALEXIS, LAURENCE BUTET-ROCH, AND VERA SALTZMAN FEATURED IN PHOTOED MAGAZINE
Images by SPAO alum Stéphane Alexis graced the cover of PhotoED Magazine, a Canadian photography magazine distributed nationally. The issue included an in-depth interview about his series Chains & Crowns.
Also featured is an interview with SPAO alum, Vera Saltzman, who talked about her series Grain Elevator. The magazine also featured an article about Haitian-Canadian artist, Émilie Régnier, written by SPAO alum Laurence Butet-Roch.
(Left) Image detail of Honey is made by Bees by Ava Margueritte, (Right) promotional poster for Pace Magazine Issue 8
October 2021
AVA MARGUERITTE HAS WORK FEATURED IN PACE MAGAZINE’S NEW ISSUE
PACE Magazine is an independent Ottawa publication that showcases visual artists, poets, activists, and other cultural artisans from diverse, intersecting communities. Issue 8, Connections, is a curated selection of poetry, photography, and visual art.
(Left) Portrait of Ava Margueritte, (Right) Cover of The Erstwhile Daisy.
July 2021
AVA MARGUERITTE RECEIVES PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD AT THE TORONTO OUTDOOR ART FAIR
Ava Margueritte participated in the 60th Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (TOAF) this year and received an honourable mention in Photography for selected works from her series The Erstwhile Daisy: a self-portrait series that examines the relationship between the body and mind. She was featured in 4 curated collections, including: Teresa Aversa, Emilie Croning, Micah Lexier , and Pennylane Shen.
(Left) Kate Roy, (Right) Logo for Rollie and Holga
June 2021
KATE ROY LAUNCHES KATE ROY PHOTO INC. AND MOBILE DARK ROOM + LARGE FORMAT CAMERA EXPERIENCE, ROLLIE AND HOLGA
”Kate Roy Photo Inc. has officially been incorporated! We’ve been working day and night to build the first-ever Mobile Cawanol lab and Retro film studio! Right now we are in the stages of crowdfunding and what better way to do that than giving back at the same time? We are offering a limited-time Membership Subscription. It’s more than worth your money in return plus you help in the aid of building the Mobile darkroom also known as Rollie! Head over to our membership website for more details. Looking forward to seeing you once we’re fully open!
Love, Kate, Rollie and Holga”.
Photo by Stephen Brulé, Tintype by Danielle Labonté
May 2021
GRADUATING SPAO DIPLOMA STUDENT, DANIELLE LABONTÉ, RECEIVES RA PHOTO CLUB’S OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD
"Nominated for her strong leadership in her first five years as a member of our club. Danielle was a great addition to the Program Committee this year and in fact, was one of the first members to facilitate a Tuesday night program evening. In June 2020 she led one of our first Zoom evenings with Jackie Kramer on Artistic Floral Photography. Through Danielle, we had a direct link to SPAO and access to the group of second-year students, two or three of these students presented on our program evenings. Sadly Danielle is moving to the Victoria area over the summer but will remain a member of our club from a distance."
(RA Photo Club)
Driftwood on Crescent Beach, Nova Scotia
April 2021
SPAO ALUM, DYANNE WILSON’S PHOTOGRAPHS SELECTED FOR MUIR HOTEL AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION
SPAO alum Dyanne Wilson's photographs were selected for the Muir Hotel Autograph Collection and were exhibited in Halifax. Dyanne Wilson is an Ottawa-based documentary and fine art photographer focused on the relationship between nature and the built environment while exploring themes of memory, place, and time.
Poster design by: @mirage.atrois
March 2021
SPAO COMMUNITY MEMBERS FEATURED IN DO IT FOR THE GRAIN 2-YEAR ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION
The Do It For The Grain 2-year Anniversary Exhibition featured many members of the SPAO community such as MaryAnn Camps, Olivia Johnston, Nicolai Gregory, Ava Margueritte, and Kate Roy.
(Left) 2020 Alum Steve West, (Right) Cover of Beautiful Minds, written and photographed by Steve West
February 2021
STEVE WEST RELEASES PHOTO BOOK
Steve set out to change the lens on stigma and substance use, by creating brain images with newly developed artistic and scientific techniques.
February 2021
SPAO ALUMNI FEATURED IN SALON SHOW
Studio Sixty Six's exhibition, Not Two Meters Apart: A Salon Show, featured an array of talented artists, including SPAO community members Angelina Barucco, Christine Fitzgerald, Barbara Brown, Julia Campisi, MaryAnn Camps, Michael Schreier, and Neeko Paluzzi.
Photo by Julie Melaschenko
July 2020
SPAO ALUMNI ACCEPTED INTO THE CITY OF OTTAWA’S DIRECT PURCHASE PROGRAM
The City of Ottawa’s Direct Purchase Program bought works from SPAO alumni Olivia Johnston and Julie Melaschenko.
![Christine Fitzgerald's Prints for Face ShieldsMay 2020Christine Fitzgerald’s Prints for Face Shields InitiativeSPAO alumna Christine Fitzgerald is using her artwork to support frontline workers. All proceeds from her #PrintsForFaceShields initiative goes directly to buying face shields for long-term care facilities and beyond!"The #PrintsForFaceShields initiative started with one long-term care facility and grew from there. The response from contributors was amazing. One print sold out in 48 hours and I only have a few of the other. By next week 12 to 15 long term care facilities will have received face shields. [SPAO Alumni] Nicolai Gregory generously agreed to print my prints at cost and I am absorbing the costs so that 100% of donations go directly to purchasing face shields for Ottawa long term care facilities."Follow @christinefitzgerald1 on instagram to learn more or view Christine's work at christinefitzgeraldphotography.com](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5113cc17e4b0c37c0c5c317b/1628187727462-R7BOJ5IG9WOX9BMDBTCC/Christine+Fitzgerald+prints+for+shields.jpg)
Christine Fitzgerald's Prints for Face Shields
May 2020
CHRISTINE FITZGERALD PRINTS FOR FACE SHIELDS INITIATIVE
SPAO alum Christine Fitzgerald used her artwork to support frontline workers. All proceeds from her #PrintsForFaceShields initiative went directly to buying face shields for long-term care facilities and beyond!
"The #PrintsForFaceShields initiative started with one long-term care facility and grew from there. The response from contributors was amazing. One print sold out in 48 hours and I only have a few of the other. By next week 12 to 15 long-term care facilities will have received face shields. [SPAO Alumni] Nicolai Gregory generously agreed to print my prints at cost and I am absorbing the costs so that 100% of donations go directly to purchasing face shields for Ottawa long-term care facilities."
Still of Kat Fulwider interview on CTV News Ottawa
November 2019
KAT FULWIDER FEATURED ON CTV NEWS
SPAO alum Kat Fulwider’s project and exhibition Your Side of the Story was featured on CTV News Ottawa. If you look closely you can see SPAO's darkroom at use. The exhibition looked at youth homelessness in Ottawa inspired by her volunteer work at Operation Come Home.
Terramatter | Jakobson, King and Lewis-Smith
November 2019
WHITNEY LEWIS-SMITH EXHIBITS AT CITY HALL ART GALLERY
"Concerned with the state of the environment and ecological destruction, Jakobson, King, and Lewis-Smith explore how we can reconnect with nature and other living beings through sympoiesis, or ‘becoming-with’ the organic world. The artists will build a site-specific, interactive installation involving painting, photography, and sound that functions as a laboratory and research space centred around multiple plant chambers."
Photo by SPAO alum Lauren Boucher
August 2019
LAUREN BOUCHER AWARDED ARTIST RESIDENCY IN VERMONT
SPAO alum Lauren Boucher was accepted into the Vermont Studio Centre residency in 2019. In addition to being accepted into the residency, she was also awarded a merit grant based on the strength of her work.
HOMUNCULUS by SPAO alum Neeko Paluzzi
May 2019
NEEKO PALUZZI EXHIBITS IN SCOTIABANK CONTACT PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL IN TORONTO
SPAO alum Neeko Paluzzi exhibition HOMUNCULUS was featured in the 2019 Scotiabank CONTACT Festival, Northern Contemporary Gallery.
HOMUNCULUS, or the planets seen through my childhood window was an installation of photo-based work that drew upon the feelings of failed expectations and vulnerability, crafting a narrative that allowed viewers to visit seven fictive planets through a classic viewmaster.
January 2019
WHITNEY LEWIS-SMITH GUEST SPEAKER ON CREATIVE MORNINGS OTTAWA
Whitney Lewis-Smith was asked to be the first speaker for CreativeMornings Ottawa in 2019! This event quickly SOLD OUT which is a testament to her knowledge base and passion for the subject matter.
Her seemingly living moving scenes are made predominantly using insects, animals, and plants that have died, but this only becomes apparent upon close inspection. The result is a subtle tension, engaging the viewer’s fascination and fears.
Photo by SPAO alum Neeko Paluzzi
February 2024
PROLOGUE TO THEATRE
In Prologue to theatre, Neeko Paluzzi discusses his new photographic works created during his artist residency at Daimon. These works – some finished and some not – continue Paluzzi’s interest in theatrical spaces and their tendency to blend genre, time, and identity.
Photo by SPAO alum Ann Piché
January 2024
BEYOND VISIBLE
Ann Piché’s solo exhibition 'beyond visible' is inspired by the launch of the James Webb Space telescope and its quest to understand the origins of the universe, beyond visible is a dialogue about our desire to continually push boundaries, explore and find our place.
Conceptualizing the physics of string theory and its notion of the multiverse, the series employs photographic abstraction as a visual illustration of the confusion we can feel when encountering the unfamiliar. The work provides an entry point into the unknown.
Photo by SPAO alum Jon Stuart
October 2023
STILLWATER
SPAO alum Jon Stuart will be exhibited Stillwater at the Shenkman Arts Centre from October 5th to 31st.
At the western edge of the Greenbelt, a debilitated wetland is being brought back to life. It’s a next-generation landscape – inherently man-made yet wild and generative, supporting both the local ecology and health of the water flowing across the city. Jon’s enveloping prints portray mysteries found in the layers of change here.
Photos by SPAO alum Camille West
September 2023
CAMILLE WEST CELEBRATES 3 BRONZE WINS
Camille West was awarded 3 bronze medals for the International Pet Photographer of the Year Awards, the world’s largest professional pet photography competition.
David Barbour installation photos
September 2023
THE LEAVE-TAKING
The Leave-taking by SPAO alum Ruth Steinberg captures a fragility, resilience, and an inescapable element of human existence: life, a breath, and death. This exhibition tells the story of Steinberg's friend, Alma, as she waits for her final moments in life through the services of Medical assistance in dying (MAID).
Photo by SPAO alum Ruth Steinberg
August 2023
CRITICAL MASS FINALIST RUTH STEINBERG
SPAO alum Ruth Steinberg was a 2023 Critical Mass finalist. Ruth and the other artists moved on to the next phase of Critical Mass to have their work viewed by 150+ international jurors.
Photo by SPAO alum and Artist-in-Residence Liliana Del Vedova
August 2023
MEMENTO MORI
Liliana Del Vedova's work 'Passage' was featured in the Memento Mori Exhibit by Chateau Gallery. Memento Mori is an exhibition that focuses on the themes of life and death.
Photo by SPAO alum Linh VH Nguyen
July 2023
62ND TORONTO OUTDOOR ART FAIR
Linh VH Nguyen participated in the 62nd Toronto Outdoor Art Fair. Their booth was part of Danna Heitner's Emerging Artist To Watch Tour. Two of their pieces were chosen for curated collections. dandelion dancer 1 was chosen for the Juror's Pick Collection and dandelion dancer 5 was selected for Omar Badrin's Not Fragile Collection.
Photo by previous Artist-in-Residence Grant Stirton
July 2023
GRANT STIRTON'S AWARD-WINNING WORK
Former Artist-in-Residence Grant Stirton has recently received a few awards:
Applied Arts Awards - Winner in the 'Photography - Other' category for his underwater platinum series Watershed
Monovision Awards - 2nd Place in 'Nature and Wildlife' for his series A Hymn For Poseidon + Honourable Mention in 'Fine Art' for his series Watershed
Photo by SPAO alum and previous Artist-in-Residence Christopher Schmitt
July 2023
CONVERGENCE
Christopher Schmitt's exhibited CONVERGENCE at Corridor 45|75 from July 15 to October 15, 2023.
Christopher Schmitt, a SPAO alum and former Artist-in-Residence, is a lens-based artist residing in Ottawa, on unceded Anishinaabe territory. His work explores disruptive technologies and the impact they have on the networks of our minds, and on our land, as well as the idea that perhaps this dark side is not a mirror reflection of our society, but rather a new world entirely. Schmitt's work is meant to help viewers navigate between abstraction and reality, providing visual clues to this uncertain virtual landscape.
Photo by SPAO alum Neeko Paluzzi
June 2023
ARTIST WALKTHROUGH: PROOF 29
Proof is Gallery 44's annual exhibition of work by emerging Canadian Artists that reflects a range of current concerns and practices in contemporary lens-based media. It's often one of the first exhibitions in a professional context for an emerging artist. Proof 29 featured SPAO alum Neeko Paluzzi, as well as artists Holly Chang and Christina Oyawale
Installation view, work by Abigail Gossage
March 2023
SPAO ALUMNI HOST PRINT SALON IN ROCKCLIFFE
Several SPAO alumni and members of a SPAO mentoring group, led by Michael Tardioli, hosted a print salon and safe in Rockcliffe. Original works presented included film, cyanotype, and digital photography.
The salon featured works by Louise Radmore, Abigail Gossage, Marcela Ochman, and Steve West.
Installation view of Terroir: belonging to place
January 2023
BARBARA BROWN DEBUTS SOLO EXHIBITION AT OTTAWA SCHOOL OF ART GALLERY
SPAO alum Barbara Brown had a solo exhibition titled Terroir: belonging to place at the Ottawa School of Art Gallery that offered a sampling of various projects she had undertaken over the years.
A Breath Above the Surface by SPAO alum Ava Margeuritte
November 2022
SPAO ALUM AVA MARGUERITTE TAKES THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD AT FIGUREWORKS 2022
There were many SPAO alumni and community members honoured at the 2022 Figureworks Awards, selected from over 182 entries from 118 artists across Canada! SPAO alum Ava Margueritte won the People’s Choice Award for her work A Breath Above the Surface (seen above).
Photo detail of Worn Brown (2019) by SPAO alum Joyce Crago
October 2022
SPAO ALUM JOYCE CRAGO AT THE OTTAWA CITY HALL ART GALLERY
SPAO alum Joyce Crago exhibited her work at the Ottawa City Hall Art Gallery. Titled Playing Dead, this show featured Joyces' masterful composition and focuses on transmuting the artists' grief into an act of profound visual communication.
Photo detail by SPAO alum Christine Fitzgerald
September 2022
SPAO ALUM CHRISTINE FITZGERALD IS EXHIBITING AT THE CARDINAL GALLERY IN TORONTO
SPAO alum Christine Fitzgerald exhibited in a group show at the Cardinal Gallery in Toronto. Titled Alchemy of Nature, the show featured work from her series Last Light, depicting vulnerable coastal places and species along the majestic Saint Lawrence River.
Photo detail by SPAO alum Justin M Millar
September 2022
SPAO ALUM + CURRENT ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE JUSTIN MILLAR TAKES SILVER AT THE PRIX DE LA PHOTOGRAPHIE PARIS
Artist-in-Residence and SPAO alum Justin M Millar was awarded Silver in the Special/Night Photography category of the Prix de la Photographie Paris.
Photo detail by SPAO alum Christine Fitzgerald
August 2022
SPAO ALUM CHRISTINE FITZGERALD NAMED ONE OF ANALOG FOREVER MAGAZINE’S ARTISTS TO KNOW!
SPAO alum Christine Fitzgerald was named one of Analog Forever's 29 Wet Plate Collodion artists you need to know! You can read the full article on the Analog Forever Magazine website.
Photo detail by SPAO alum Vera Saltzman
July 2022
SPAO ALUM VERA SALTZMAN SELECTED TO BE APART OF ANALOG FOREVER MAGAZINE’S ONLINE EXHIBITION
SPAO alum Vera Saltzman was selected to be a part of Analog Forever Magazine’s online exhibition Expressing the Internal - The Self Beyond the Selfie. The intent of this show was to find the line between a selfie and a self-portrait. You can view this exhibit on the Analog Forever website.
Photo detail by SPAO alum Shaelynn Tredenick
July 2022
SPAO ALUM SHAELYNN TREDENICK IS EXHIBITING AT THE TARREN WHITE GALLERY
SPAO alum Shaelynn Tredenick’s piece Vernal was on display as part of The Love Show at the Taren White Gallery in Paris, Ontario. This exhibit featured the work of 20 artists. Tredenick’s practice involved scanography of botanicals taking inspiration from 17th-century floral Dutch paintings.
Photo detail from Stillwater by SPAO alum Jon Stuart
May 2022
JON STUART'S WORK IS FEATURED IN RVCA'S BLOG
The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) wrote a blog post to celebrate Jon Stuart's project Stillwater, using his art to complement the science behind the wetland rehabilitation.
Photo detail of Symphonie fantastique 1 by SPAO alum Neeko Paluzzi
April 2022
SPAO ALUM NEEKO PALUZZI HAS A NEW PHOTOGRAPHIC SERIES AT STUDIO SIXTY SIX
SPAO alum Neeko Paluzzi showcased a photographic series at Studio Sixty Six!
"In Symphonie fantastique, Paluzzi references his own queer body and the rich history of LGBTQIA+ artists – Claude Cahun, Robert Mapplethorpe, and Paul Mpagu Sepuya — creating self-portraits as a form of self-expression, self-exploration, and self-acceptance."
Photo generously provided by PhotoED Magazine
April 2022
CHRISTOPHER SCHMITT FEATURED IN PHOTOED MAGAZINE’S SPRING/SUMMER ISSUE
SPAO alum Christopher Schmitt wrote an article in the Spring/Summer 2022 issue of PhotoED Magazine. Titled Convergence: A (Virtual) Perception of Reality, Schmitt spoke about his latest photographic works in relation to an increasingly virtual world.
“My inspiration flows from a deep connection with science and technology, with each image representing my vision of a current or future state of the world.” - Christopher Schmitt
(Left) Self-Portrait of Vera Saltzman, (Right) image detail from “Mud Bogs” photo series
December 2021
VERA SALTZMAN RECEIVES MULTIPLE HONOURS FOR PHOTO SERIES
Mud Bogs - a photo series by SPAO alum, Vera Saltzman, won the Documentary Category (Non-Professional Section) in the 17th annual Julia Margaret Cameron Awards. Additionally, the series was a Silver Winner at the Budapest International Awards.
In the words of Saltzman - "In an unlikely place, what some consider a “redneck’s paradise,” I witnessed the fulfillment of a most basic human need: connection. Mud Bogs are off-road races popular in western Canada, where men - and a few women - race souped-up vehicles through pits of mud, competing for bragging rights."
(Left) Portrait of Dyanne Wilson
November 2021
DYANNE WILSON, RECEIVES PORTFOLIO SPOTLIGHT FROM RENOWNED CURATOR
SPAO alum Dyanne Wilson’s portfolio was selected for Format Magazine's list of the "10 Best Fine Art Photography Portfolio Examples of 2021". The selection was made by Format curator and New York based art director/photographer, Lia Bekyan. I
(Left) Barbara Brown and Cynthia O’Brien, courtesy of The Highlander, (Right) detail by Barbara Brown and Cynthia O'Brien, I am Made of Her, 60 x 40", archival pigment on cotton rag, 2017
October 2021
SPAO ALUM, BARBARA BROWN TO SPEAK AT BORROWED TIMES CONFERENCE
SPAO alum Barbara Brown collaborated with Cynthia O’Brien in an exhibition titled “Lifecycle Conversations". The exhibition was based on their shared experience of working in long-term care as artists. They explored ideas of death and dying through the filter of artistic practice.
(Left) Portrait of Steven West, (Right) Installation view of Season of Growth, featuring the work of Steven West
September 2021
STEVEN WEST IS FEATURED IN A NEW OUTDOOR ART INSTALLATION
Steven West was featured in the Glebe BIA's outdoor Art Cube Installation Season of Growth in partnership with the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group. His work was featured amongst over a dozen Ottawa-based artists animating the community and exploring artwork created during pandemic restrictions.
(Left) Stéphane Alexis, (Right) Chains & Crowns Exhibit at the Ottawa Art Gallery
July 2021
STÉPHANE ALEXIS’S EXHIBITION, CHAINS & CROWNS, IS ON VIEW IN THE GALLERIE ANNEXE AT THE OAG
"Myself, as well as many others, are still learning about the crowns on our heads and how to care for them. So, as we’ve journeyed through this project together, I hope that not only black people but all people will begin to understand the gravity that comes from “black hair”, learning how to love others and ourselves through our locs."
(Text courtesy of Stéphane Alexis).
(Left) Ava Margueritte, (Right) Half Full by Ava Margueritte
June 2021
AVA MARGUERITTE IS PART OF TORONTO OUTDOOR ART FAIR (TOAF)
"Ava Margueritte is a neurodiverse multidisciplinary artist, primarily focused on photo-based works. Margueritte explores different narratives to document physical reactions to other emotional states. By absorbing her surroundings, she evaluates the connection between body and mind."
Left) Portrait of Steve West, (Right) Image from Steve West’s Book, Beautiful Minds
May 2021
STEVEN WEST IS INTERVIEWED BY ROGERS TV ABOUT HIS BOOK, BEAUTIFUL MINDS
"Beautiful Minds: Where Lived Experiences, Stories, and Brains Combine to End Stigma: Steve West, Photographer + Chair of the Royal's Institute of Mental Health Research talks about Substance Use Disorder and shares photos from his book, Beautiful Minds.
(Left) Olivia Johnston, (Right) Exterior view of SPAO.
April 2021
OLIVIA JOHNSTON WRITES ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OTTAWA'S PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS IN APT613
In Apt613's Future of Ottawa Series, SPAO alum Olivia Johnston wrote about the current state and future of the photographic arts in Ottawa.
(Left) Ava Margueritte, (Right) installation view of Margueritte's work in You're on Mute.
March 2021
AVA MARGUERITTE FEATURED IN GROUP EXHIBITION AT WALL SPACE GALLERY
SPAO alum and former artist-in-residence, Ava Margueritte was featured in You're On Mute, a group exhibition held at Wall Space Gallery that also included the work of Joanna Baxter, Marianne Burlew, and Marney McDiarmid.
The little prince (2020) by Neeko Paluzzi
March 2021
NEEKO PALUZZI DEBUT SOLO EXHIBITION AT KARSH-MASSON GALLERY
“As a young boy, I wanted to become an astronaut. I spent countless hours using my View-Master to explore the universe, imagining that one day I would see the planets with my own eyes. Recently, I found myself sleeping in my childhood bed, which was smaller than I remembered. Everything felt both familiar and foreign, as if the objects were from a previous life, and I was just discovering them for the first time. Once the feelings of nostalgia faded, thoughts entered my mind about failing to become who I wanted to be. Here I was – decades later – a stranger in a bed that was once my sanctuary.”
The little prince was an inter-textual installation of photo-based work that draws upon the feelings of failed expectations and alienation, crafting a narrative that allows the viewer to visit seven fictive planets. Paluzzi expanded on this work by drawing images and videos from his personal archive to remind himself that even while traveling through the outer limits of the universe he brings his past with him.
(Top Right) Detail of Mater Dolorosa (Angela) by Olivia Johnston. (Top Left) Image: Detail of The Mess by Julie Melaschenko. (Bottom Left) Details of Worn: Brown (Left) and Worn: Red (Right) by Joyce Crago. (Bottom Right) Detail of 03-20-06-21 2014 5560°K Toronto by Colwyn Griffith
January 2021
WORK BY SPAO ALUMNI AND CURRENT STUDENTS ADDED TO OTTAWA ART COLLECTION
Each year, the City of Ottawa puts on an exhibition to feature the work of local artists that will be joining the City of Ottawa Art Collection. The 2021 exhibition entitled Hindsight: 2020 Additions to the City of Ottawa Art Collection was on view at the Karsh-Masson Gallery and featured an array of works by SPAO alumni and instructors that included Olivia Johnston, Julie Melaschenko, Joyce Crago, and Colwyn Griffith.
(Left) Angelina Barrucco, (Right) Angelina Barrucco's Pandemic Soap Study 2020
December 2020
ANGELINA BARRUCCO WINS VICE-PRESIDENT, RESEARCH HOLIDAY CONTEST
Angelina Barrucco’s work was featured on the cover of the 2020 season's greeting card.
"Her photographic composite is a 24-image chemigram created by placing a bar of soap used for handwashing on expired and fogged 4x5 inch photographic black-and-white sheet film. The artist developed the film using darkroom chemistry, then scanned it to create the final image. Each sheet of film represents one day of handwashing over a 24-day period during the pandemic."
(University of Ottawa, 2020).
Exhibition Poster - Harmony of the spheres by Neeko Paluzzi
August 2020
NEEKO PALUZZI DEBUTS SOLO EXHIBITION
SPAO alum Neeko Paluzzi opened a new exhibition at Studio 66 on Friday, August 21. This exhibition was a continuation of his exploration of musical and photographic tones.
Photo by Quaran-zine contributor Stephane Alexis
July 2020
KATE ROY RELEASES QUARAN-ZINE
Kate Roy’s created a zine exploring themes of loneliness, entropy, introspection, and more. This zine featured many SPAO graduates of the Diploma Program as well as folks from the part-time and larger photographic community.
Kat Fulwider Feature in PhotoEd Magazine
April 2020
KAT FULWIDER FEATURED IN PHOTOED MAGAZINE
SPAO alum Kat Fulwider and her photographic project about homeless youth in Ottawa, was featured in an edition of PhotoEd Magazine.
Photo by Jessie-Park Wheeler
November 2019
SPAO ALUM WORKS ON SET FOR MRS. AMERICA
SPAO alum Jessie-Park Wheeler worked on the set of Mrs. America, a mini-series with Cate Blanchett. Their role involved photo research and putting together research boards.
Exhibition poster “Captive” by Christine Fitzgerald
October 2019
CHRISTINE FITZGERALD EXHIBITS AT STUDIO SIXTY SIX
SPAO alum Christine Fitzgerald exhibited a series of photographs, "Captive," at Studio Sixty Six.
Photo by SPAO alum Angelina McCormick
August 2019
ANGELINA MCCORMICK FEATURED IN EDITION OF ANDAZ SALON
SPAO alum Angelina McCormick and her One Night Stand project were featured in an edition of Andaz Salon. From the artist's statement: "Musicians spend so much of their time on the road, in strange rooms, and in strange surroundings in front of new audiences every day on their tour. They go from having never met or interacted with the new audience, to baring all of themselves in a matter of hours."
(Left): Italia No. 2 by Angelina McCormick, (Right): Clematis by Barbara Brown
June 2019
ANGELINA MCCORMICK AND BARBARA BROWN EXHIBIT AT STUDIO SIXTY SIX
SPAO alumni Angelina McCormick and Barbara Brown exhibited their show THRĒO at Studio Sixty Six along with MaryAnn Camps.
Collage of photos from 2019 RBC Emerging Artist Ceremony
May 2019
OLIVIA JOHNSTON RECEIVES THE 2019 RBC EMERGING ARTIST AWARD
SPAO alum Olivia Johnston received the 2019 RBC Emerging Artist Award.
April 2019
RUTH STEINBERG EXHIBITS AT ENRICHED BREAD ARTISTS
SPAO alum Ruth Steinberg worked together with Angus Wright to coax the beauty out of a body that Angus was reluctant to look at himself. They hosted an artist talk and panel discussion on the male nude in photography, masculinity, gender performance, and body image.
February 2019
JENNIFER STEWART AWARDED ARTIST RESIDENCY
SPAO alum Jennifer Stewart was awarded a residency at the Ou Gallery on Vancouver Island to work on Heavy Words, a project archiving letters found in the artist’s family history.
Photo by Beate Sass
February 2024
FOCUS ON AGING
Beate Sass and SPAO alum Ruth Steiberg curated a five-day takeover on Lenscratch. This takeover featured the work of five photographers who have all done series on their aging parents.
December 2023
DISSOCIATIVE BLUE
Dissociative Blue by SPAO alum Tyler Jenson Nykilchyk was part of the exhibition OVERSOUNDS by FRESH SALAD in the UK.
Photo by SPAO alum Tyler Nykilchyk
October 2023
IN THE SHADOWS
SPAO alumni Sydney Hall, émilie KLEMM, Ruth Less, and Tyler Nykilchyk exhibited In The Shadows at Art House Cafe.
Photo by SPAO alum and previous A.I.R. Steve West
September 2023
BEAUTIFUL MINDS
Beautiful Minds by SPAO alum Steve West has been awarded an Honorable Mention in the 2023 edition of the International Photography Awards for Professional Book: People.
Photo by SPAO alum Christine Fitzgerald
August 2023
2023 KARSH AWARD
SPAO alum Christine Fitzgerald was announced as the 2023 Karsh Award prize recipient. Her unique blend of historical and modern photographic techniques offers innovative portraits. Exploring nature and themes like time, precarity, and loss, her work holds contemporary relevance.
Photo by SPAO alum and Artist-in-Residence Liliana Del Vedova
July 2023
TRANSFORMATIONS ART EXHIBITION
((…Transformations…)) was a captivating art exhibition that showcased the creative works of various artists and included a print sale. One of the notable highlights of the event was an artist talk by SPAO alum and Artist-in-Residence Liliana Del Vedova.
Photos by SPAO alum and former AIR S. Maria Brandt
July 2023
S. MARIA BRANDT WINS JULIA MARGARET CAMERON AWARD FOR WOMEN PHOTOGRAPHERS
SPAO alum and past Artist-in-Residence, S. Maria Brandt was awarded the 20th Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Women Photographers. Brandt won for a series of five images from her work Prisons & Promises: The Diptychs in the category: Pro Fine Art to Open-Theme.
Photo by SPAO alum and previous Artist-in-Residence Ann Piché
June 2023
ANN PICHÉ'S IMAGE SELECTED FOR CURATED COLLECTION
Current artist-in-residence Ann Piché's image, color plane 1, has been selected to be part of the curated collection Never Touch The Wild Animals by Michèle Pearson Clarke at this year's Toronto Art Fair (TOAF).
Severance 3 by SPAO alum Tyler Nykilchyk
May 2023
fragmented body AT THE SCOTIABANK CONTACT PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL
Primarily composed of SPAO college diploma program alumni, the exhibition showcased work using analog and alternative processes to explore the (dis)connection felt between our bodies, memories, and experiences.
The featured artists included émilie KLEMM, Jaime Nesrallah, Jessica O’Lear, Liliana Del Vedova, Linh Nguyen, Ruth Less, and Tyler Nykilchyk.
Photo by David Barbour; City of Ottawa
January 2023
20% OF ART PURCHASED BY THE CITY OF OTTAWA WERE CREATED BY SPAO ALUMNI
20% of the latest City of Ottawa Art Collection purchases were created by graduates of SPAO's College Diploma Program. This percentage jumps to 25% when you include SPAO community members! Artwork from all 56 artists that were purchased in 2022 can be viewed at Metamorphosis: 2022 Additions to the City of Ottawa Art Collection at the City Hall Art Gallery until February 3.
Untitled 1 by SPAO alum Ruth Steinberg
November 2022
SPAO ALUM RUTH STEINBERG TAKES FIRST PRIZE AT FIGUREWORKS 2022
There were many SPAO alumni and community members honoured at the 2022 Figureworks Awards, selected from over 182 entries from 118 artists across Canada! Special congratulations are in order for SPAO alum Ruth Steinberg, who won First Prize for her work Untitled 1 (seen above).
Grain Elevator No. 23 (2020) by SPAO alum Vera Saltzman
October 2022
SPAO ALUM VERA SALTZMAN FEATURED IN BROADVIEW MAGAZINE
SPAO College Diploma Program alum Vera Saltzman was featured in the latest issue of Broadview Magazine as part of their Snapshot series. Broadview is an independent Canadian publication focused on spirituality, justice, and ethical living.
Photo detail of the Fall 2022 PhotoEd Magazine cover
September 2022
LAURENCE BUTET-ROCH CURATES PHOTOED MAGAZINE'S LATEST ISSUE
SPAO alum Laurence Butet-Roch curated the Fall 2022 issue of PhotoED Magazine! Using the guiding theme of activism and photography, Laurence had this to say: “I often consider the call by art historian Alexis Boylan to become “visual activists.” She tells us that “we must reject passivity and mere consumption” of images to “be more assertive, tricky, and thoughtful with our visual atmosphere."
Photo by SPAO College Diploma Student Yu-Shen Chiu
July 2022
SPAO COLLEGE DIPLOMA STUDENT YU-SHEN CHIU SELECTED TO BE PART OF ANALOG FOREVER MAGAZINE’S ONLINE EXHIBITION
SPAO alum Yu-Shen Chiu was selected to be a part of the Analog Forever online exhibition Expressing the Internal - The Self Beyond the Selfie. The intent of this show was to find the line between a selfie and a self-portrait.
Photo detail by SPAO alum Angelina Barrucco
July 2022
SPAO ALUM ANGELINA BARRUCCO HAS BEEN AWARDED THE CREATION + PRODUCTION FUND FROM THE CITY OF OTTAWA
SPAO alum Angelina Barrucco was awarded the 2022 Creation and Production Fund for Professional Artists from the City of Ottawa. This fund supports the creation of new works in literary, performing, media, and visual arts within Ottawa’s bilingual and culturally diverse community.
Photo detail by Stéphane Alexis
April 2022
SPAO ALUM STÉPHANE ALEXIS IS EXHIBITING WORK AT FESTIVAL ART SOUTERRAIN
SPAO alum Stéphane Alexis exhibited his photographic series Chains & Crowns at the 2022 Festival Art Souterrain! Over 6 km of Montreal's underground pedestrian network was filled with contemporary art based on the theme Voies-Voix Résilientes (Resilient Voices-Pathways).
Installation view of Alter Ego by Alexander Finlay
March 2022
SPAO ALUM, ALEXANDER FINLAY, IS EXHIBITING HIS SERIES AT CORRIDOR 45|75
SPAO alum and previous artist-in-residence, Alexander Finlay, exhibited his series "Alter Ego" at Corridor 45|75!
"Alter ego continues my dissection of altered superheroes through portraiture. I use iconic costumes and drag queen makeup to give each character a new identity." - Alexander Finlay
Left to right: photo details by SPAO alumni, Fran Ages, Joyce Crago, and Ava Margueritte
December 2021
SPAO ALUMNI RECEIVE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS
SPAO alumni, Fran Ages, Joyce Crago, and Ava Margueritte were awarded the 17th Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Women Photographers.
Ages received an honourable mention in the Non-professional Section for the category "Open Theme Through Portrait". Crago received an honourable mention in the Non-professional Section for the category "Documentary & Reportage Through Fine Art". And last but not least, Margueritte was awarded runner-up in the Professional Section for the category "Self Portrait Through Women Seen by Women".
(Left) Portrait of Margo McDiarmid (Right) detail from The Outdoor Rink by Margo McDiarmid
September 2021
CITY OF OTTAWA PURCHASES HUGE ORDER OF MARGO MCDIARMID’S PHOTO BOOK
Margo McDiarmid had 300 copies of her photo book The Outdoor Rink purchased by The City of Ottawa. Her book documents the countless hours spent by volunteers, the memories we create, and the solitude we seek on the ice.
Photos by Melanie Mathieu from Karanfil/Carnation, featuring Christine Fitzgerald (right)
August 2021
CHRISTINE FITZGERALD IS FEATURED IN A NEW FILM BY THE NATIONAL ARTS CENTRE
SPAO alum Christine Fitzgerald showcased her wet plate photography in new film by the National Arts Centre titled Karanfil/Carnation, directed, produced, and choreographed by award-winning artist, Laura Taler!
Photo from Process (2021) by SPAO alum, Victoria Laube
August 2021
VICTORIA LAUBE FINALIST FOR A RENOWNED, INTERNATIONAL PHOTO COMPETITION
SPAO alum Victoria Laube was selected as one of 200 finalists from around the world for Photolucida's 2021 photography competition: Critical Mass.
Laube's submission was taken from the series Process (2021), a work that came from grieving and self-examination following the assisted death of her mother.
Lavada, 2021 by Whitney Lewis-Smith
June 2021
WHITNEY LEWIS-SMITH'S NEW WORK EXHIBITED AT THE KOSTIUK GALLERY IN VANCOUVER
"Whitney Lewis-Smith is preoccupied with our modern relationship to the natural world and uses antiquated darkroom techniques to reanimate collected specimens. Lewis-Smith draws heavily from symbolism in art history to construct and document her elaborate and imagined sets. Mysterious in their details, the images of nearly extinct animals and fragile ecosystems resemble icons of our current time slipping into history."
(Text courtesy of the Kostiuk Gallery).
(Left) Portrait of Nicolai Papove Gregory, (Right) Image by Nicolai Papove Gregory
May 2021
NICOLAI GREGORY FINE ARTS PRINTING SERVICE
Nicolai Papove Gregory is an artist and commercial photographer as well as a Fine Art printer. His time at the School of Photographic Arts: Ottawa (SPAO) has allowed him to create a nuanced process that combines his experience of both darkroom (analogue) and digital printing. He employs a ground-up approach that makes for the best possible print while not altering the original vision of the piece. As an artist himself, Nicolai extends the same expectations of perfection on clients’ work as he does on his own. That quality transfers to any project he comes across; big or small, Fine Art or casual printing.
Joyce Crago standing beside her winning project, Detritus, part of her Playing Dead series.
April 2021
JOYCE CRAGO RECEIVES THE 2021 PROJECT X PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD
Joyce Crago’s project Playing Dead emerged from her ongoing investigation of death, mourning, and sorrow. Turning the camera on her aging body and the objects and void left in the wake of a loved one’s death, this work explored the vulnerable intimacies of death. It questioned our impulse to hold onto each other and reconstitute ourselves through remnant traces.
Sample spread of Vera Saltzman feature in the Field Notes series
March 2021
VERA SALTZMAN FEATURED IN FIELD NOTES SERIES
Field Notes, published by Another Place Press in the UK, is a series of limited edition zine titles showcasing photographic projects that explore our relationship with 'place’. "The Elevators” is from Saltzman's ongoing series featuring grain elevators here in Saskatchewan.
(Left) Shelby Lisk, (Centre) 2020 alum Stéphane Alexis and (Right) 2017 alum Neeko Paluzzi
February 2021
2/3 ARTIST RECIPIENTS OF THE 2022 KARSH CONTINUUM AWARD ARE SPAO ALUMNI
"The City of Ottawa is pleased to announce that local artists Stéphane Alexis, Shelby Lisk and Neeko Paluzzi have been selected by 2019 Karsh Award laureate Andrew Wright for the 2022 Karsh Continuum exhibition and mentorship opportunity. This exhibition opens on February 10 at the Karsh-Masson Gallery in Ottawa."
"Every four years, a $7,500 prize is presented to a mid-career/established local artist for their outstanding body of work and significant contribution to the artistic discipline in a photo/lens-based medium."
(Source: City of Ottawa)
(Left) Cover Image of SHOTS Magazine 150th Edition featuring work by Christine Fitzgerald and (Right) image by Christine Fitzgerald.
February 2021
CHRISTINE FITZGERALD AND ANN PICHÉ FEATURED IN 150TH ISSUE OF SHOTS MAGAZINE
Christine Fitzgerald was the featured photographer for the 150th Edition of SHOTS Magazine! This edition also featured the work of SPAO alum, Ann Piché.
Worn: Brown by Joyce Crago
December 2020
JOYCE CRAGO RECEIVES GRAND PRIZE IN PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
At the end of 2020, Joyce Crago won Grand Prize in The Robert McLaughlin Gallery (RMG) Fridays: Focused Photography Competition for her image, Worn: Brown, archival inkjet print, 2019. 2/5, 19" x 26 ½".
Photo by Vivian Törs
September 2020
VIVIAN TÖRS EXHIBITS AT KARSH-MASSON GALLERY
Two visceral discoveries lie at the heart of Vivian Törs’ exhibition, Permission to Speak. The first was a small cache of letters, written in Hungarian and found after the death of Édi, a 96-year-old family friend. The second was a stash of expired photographic paper, perfect for the lumen technique. This involves laying objects on silver gelatin paper and exposing them to sunlight to create a negative image where the light source can seem to emanate from within. The artist immediately connected the two discoveries, recognizing that they represented the elusive form she had been seeking. Marrying the letters and the lumen gave her the liberty to deepen personal history in a nonliteral way. - Exhibition booklet excerpt by Nancy Beale.
Photo spread by Ava Margueritte for PhotoED Magazine
July 2020
AVA MARGUERITTE FEATURED IN PHOTOED MAGAZINE
Ava Margueritte’s spread in an issue of PhotoED Magazine highlights the talent, skill, and determination of SPAO students who graduated in an uncertain time.
Photo by Angelina McCormick
February 2020
ANGELINA MCCORMICK DEBUTS SOLO EXHIBITION AT ATRIUM GALLERY
SPAO alum Angelina McCormick had an exhibition titled Silence at the Atrium Gallery in Ben Franklin Place. Her pinhole-based work explored imposed silence in social situations, asking viewers to think about how we choose to engage with silence in our own lives. The photographs hung on an interactive gliding system that shifts the image between 'positive' or 'negative' tones depending on the viewer's relationship to the questions asked.
Exhibition by Justin Wonnacott
November 2019
OLIVIA JOHNSTON DEBUTS EXHIBITION AT CARLETON UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY
SPAO alum Olivia Johnston invited her peers to pose as Christian saints and Madonnas, as well as other Biblical figures in her series of photographic portraits.
HEAL by Lauren Boucher and Kat Fulwider
October 2019
LAUREN BOUCHER AND KAT FULWIDER DEBUT NEW EXHIBITION
Heal represents a pilgrimage back to the self. In a dialogue of expression, Katherine Fulwider and Lauren Boucher utilize the photographic medium as a vehicle for introspection, exposing the active process of healing.
Photo by SPAO alum Olivia Johnston
August 2019
OLIVIA JOHNSTON PRESENTS AT DAÏMÔN
Olivia presented and discussed her practice, including the content and concepts behind previous work as well as projects such as the series TREASURES and her exhibition at the Carleton University Art Gallery, Saints & Madonnas.
June 2019
JOCELYN KEAYS AND ALEXANDRA SOFIA DEBUT NEW ISSUE OF OPAL MAG
OPAL is a creation by two SPAO alum, Alexandra Sofia and Jocelyn Keays. This exhibition and publication hosted an incredible roster of emerging, established, and award-winning artists from all around the world. A number of our other alumni and community members were featured in the issue.
Photo created by Olivia Johnston in collaboration with Regreta Brown, Rebecca Clouatre, Kristina Corre, Lori Langille, and Amy Thompson using bits and pieces from each of the artists in the show.
March 2019
REGRETA BROWN AND OLIVIA JOHNSTON PART OF NEW GROUP EXHIBITION AT GALLERY 101
Two SPAO alumni, Olivia Johnston and Regreta Brown, were part of a beautiful group show Gatherers. The idea for Gatherers began with six artists’ desire to showcase various approaches to collage as a contemporary art medium. As a body of work, the show opened up the definition of what a collage can be; including a range of techniques for assembling found images and objects by analog, photographic, and digital means.
Figureworks 2018, featuring work by SPAO alumni Geneviève Labbé and Olivia Johnston
November 2019
SEVERAL SPAO ALUMNI FEATURED IN FIGUREWORKS
Many SPAO alumni and community members were featured in the 2019 Figureworks exhibition and competition such as Gary Franks, Abigail Gossage, John Healey, Lindsay Irene, Patricia La Prairie, Ava Margueritte, Celeste Marten, and Angelina McCormick.
March 2019
HANNAH EVANS AND GENEVIÈVE EXHIBIT AT EXPOSURE GALLERY
Not an Island, Nor a Home, exhibition by SPAO alum Hannah Evans and Geneviève Labbé was held at Exposure Gallery.
Not an Island, Nor a Home was a series of photo-based works by Hannah Evans and Geneviève Labbé that explored the indescribable bouts of loneliness and moments of upheaval often associated with depressive states, as well as the desire to have those chaotic feelings linger.
Still from Vice documentary featuring Lindsay Irene
September 2018
LINDSAY IRENE FEATURED IN VICE DOCUMENTARY
Photographer Lindsay Irene photographed sex workers in their homes in hopes of increasing viewers’ understanding of who they are as people.
Photo by SPAO alum Neeko Paluzzi
July 2019
NEEKO PALUZZI DEBUTS EXHIBITION AT STUDIO SIXTY SIX
In Paluzzi’s The Goldberg Variations, were 32 photographs, each visualizing a single Aria or Variation from Bach’s score recorded by Glenn Gould in 1955 and 1981. In order to match the tonal range of a particular piece of music, Paluzzi used darkroom equipment as a musical instrument, operating the aperture of the enlarger lens, contrast filters, and the timer to make sound into light.
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