By LINCOLN DEPRADINE
Toronto, a city of almost three million people, has some outstanding photographers. Many of them are members of the Black and Caribbean community and showcase their work at various venues across the Province of Ontario.
A group of five – part of the Canadian Caribbean Photographic Arts Collective (CCPAC) – have had some of their photos on public view in their latest art exhibition titled, “Sensational Vistas”.
The five include CCPAC founding members Grenada-born Ian P. Grant and Trinidadian Canadian Anthony Berot.
“The main thing about this show is that it’s of different viewpoints of different photographers. My particular view, in terms of what I do, is based on portraits,” Berot told Share at an exhibition opening reception at Areej Artists Centre (AAC) on Danforth Avenue.
AAC, registered in 2017 as a non-profit organization, says it exists to serve “a very diverse artist population”, allowing artists to “achieve their fullest potential”; to be “a place for art lovers to experience beautiful works of art” and also to be “a major contributor to the arts in Toronto and Canada”.
According to CCPAC, its aims include “creating a legacy that highlights the excellent work of Canadian-Caribbean photographers”.
Members of the collective place a high value on “diverse perspectives and unique approaches to photography”, said CCPAC, which described “Sensational Vistas” as a “visual journey that transcends borders and embraces diversity”.
“We want people to come out and see the talent that we have. We have a vision to educate our Black community on the type of artwork that we produce,” Grant said.
Former Trinidad and Tobago diplomat, Michael Lashley, was among guests that attended the reception and viewed the exhibition, which included works by Benjamin Alunyo and David Lewis.
“It’s a joy to see exhibitions of photographs,” Lashley said in an interview. “Photography is a powerful art; it’s a creative activity. There’s an old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words. The beauty of some of these photographs is almost as though they’re a borderline between photography and painting. The colours are lush.”
Alunyo’s work are photos of costumes captured at the Toronto Caribbean Carnival.
“It’s about the design of the costumes, the colours, the creativity of the costume designers and the masqueraders who actually bring the costumes to life,” he said. “I am happy to be part of this exhibition.”
Lewis, a retired accountant, said he always has a camera with him after taking a photography course in 1974.
“Landscape is my thing. I also incorporate landscape with some portrait photography as well. It’s a hobby that gives me great enjoyment,” said Lewis.
The only woman in the “Sensational Vistas” art exhibition was Lisa Faure. However, the exhibits are not her works. They’re that of Peter Faure, her late father.
“I’m carrying on his legacy by showcasing his photography,” Faure said.
The late Trinidad-born Faure was a CCPAC member who died December 2, 2022. He was 77.
Faure was a veteran pathologist assistant whose pastime included photographing images of nature and of Trinidad carnival.
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