Every year in Toronto, the entire month of May is dedicated to the art of photography. The Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival this year offers more than 1000 local, national and international artists exhibiting at more than 200 venues and will reach an expected audience of over 1.5 million viewers. Founded as a not-for-profit organization 15 years ago, the festival is devoted to celebrating and fostering the art and profession of photography. It is the largest photography event in the world.
The theme of the exhibition this year, "Figure & Ground" looks at how photographic images alter perception, inform knowledge, and uncover meaning. From classical portraits of the figure in the landscape to critical views of a ground transformed by human intervention, the works in this year’s festival explore the shifting tensions between humanity and nature.
"The breadth of exhibitions in Contact this year reinforce the importance of art and significance of artists as communicators within society," explains Bonnie Rubenstein, Artistic Director of the festival. "In its simplest form, the theme Figure and Ground asks: What is our relationship to the environment? Looking at the photographs presented throughout the festival, we find many complex answers."
Throughout the month of May, The Ministry of Artistic Affairs will offer blog postings about many of our favorite exhibitions and events that are part of Contact 2011.
Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival
www.scotiabankcontactphoto.com
