Ten years ago, Alexis Marie Chute was in a restaurant with her husband, Aaron, looking back on the previous 10+ years of her art and photography career. At that point, she was well established, but she wanted to do more.
“We were looking at the challenges and successes over the years, and we mused about how amazing it would be to start something where we can help other creative people show their work, and move them further in their careers faster than I experienced,” she says.
That was the start of the InFocus Photo Exhibit and Awards, which showcases and rewards up-and-coming photographers. In year one, InFocus first focused on the Edmonton area. The next year it expanded to Alberta photographers. By year three it went Canada-wide. And for its 10th anniversary — commemorated in a newly released book — “we’ve actually welcomed submissions from international photographers from across the world, which is super cool, because it gives a whole different level of exposure and celebration when we can showcase the work of our local community internationally.”
It’s impressive growth, surpassed only by the growth of the many photographers whose work InFocus has curated over the years, many of whom had their first official shows with InFocus. Marie Chute thinks of people like Ashley Ciona, who went on to win the 2019 Canon Award of Excellence, and Nahanni McKay, who won the 2022 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist award. “It’s amazing to help lift these artists up and then see them go on to even greater things in their careers,” she says.
So how to celebrate 10 years of career-advancing exhibitions? With an exhibition at the Art Gallery of Alberta where a new crop of shutterbugs can advance their careers. Identity Ether, which doubles as the kick-off party for the 2024 InFocus season (many exhibitions will run simultaneously at galleries around town), will start on the Saturday (Feb. 24) afternoon, and is free to everyone. “That evening, we have a special photographer-only social, where we’re inviting photographers to come and network and hopefully meet their next collaborators over a drink and dessert at Halo Bar. And then on the Sunday, we have a free open house in Stony Plain at the Red Brick Common Public Art Gallery, where people can look at the two exhibits we have there.” The afternoon ends with photo portfolio reviews, where emerging and amateur photographers can meet a panel of five reviewers to get feedback on their work.
At a time when everyone’s walking around with cameras in their pockets, Chute says photography is “the medium of our times.” Whether that’s made people appreciate — or dismiss — professionally shot works is a debate for future photog philosophers with 20/20 hindsight vision. But along with advancing careers, Chute hopes exhibitions like these remind people of what’s visually possible.
“Everybody is so adept at pulling out their phones and taking photographs, so there’s an initial familiarity with photography. But I think the everyday photographer will come to this event, or any of the InFocus exhibitions, and feel inspired. And maybe realize that this tool I hold in my hand is actually way more powerful than I realized, and I can use it to tell meaningful stories and be an artist of my own life.”
Realize your picture taking power (or at least appreciate the power of others), this weekend starting at the Art Gallery of Alberta.
