Photography exhibit showcases students’ best work
By Jane Skrypnek
The School of the Photographic Arts: Ottawa (SPAO) hosted a reception on March 16 to a packed house for its first exhibition in its new space in Little Italy. The event launched the “A+ Exhibition” displaying the best work of the year from some of SPAO’s part-time students.
George Salhani, one of those part-time students, was honoured for his piece depicting a woman from his small hometown in Lebanon.
“What’s really fantastic about SPAO is it really tries to elevate the photography into an art form,” said Salhani, a government employee.
“A lot of the focus is not just on how to use Photoshop or how to use your camera, but how to compose an image, how to execute your vision, how to get in touch with your creative side and really trying to express something through photography,” he said.
The school, established in 2005, relocated from the Byward Market to Little Italy in 2017 as part of a revamping effort. Both its school and new gallery space are now located at 77 Pamilla St, near the corner of Carling and Preston.
The gallery is currently open to the public at irregular hours, but will officially launch on May 11 and announce the SPAO Centre’s new name. At that point, regular hours and rotating exhibitions from students and elsewhere can be expected.
In this smartphone era, the school is unique for still offering darkroom photography courses.
The darkroom is the reason Amy Rose started taking part-time classes in 2011. She had inherited her father’s old film camera and said she figured it was finally time to learn how to use it.
“It’s still like magic when you go into the dark room and develop your film and then produce the print,” said Rose.
Like Salhani, Rose was honoured at the event for her work. Visiting Paris last May, she photographed a room at the Picasso Museum devoted to the artist’s first wife, Olga.
“There’s so many images out there in the world and everyone’s got an iPhone that can take these beautiful portraits. There’s got to be something more,” said Jonathan Hobin, creative director of SPAO.
Hobin said the school practices a philosophy of mentorship, through which small groups and one-on-one work is used to produce talent.
“Unlike teachers where you just show up to class, they lecture you at how it should be and then you’re off do it on your own. It can’t just be left at that,” said Hobin.
Hobin studied film at Ryerson University before being mentored by co-founder of SPAO, Michael Tardioli.
He said the mentorship he received from Tardioli transformed him into the photographer he is today.
Hobin is best known for his series, In the Playroom, which garnered him significant recognition. In the series, Hobin photographed children reenacting major current events and headlines.
After being interviewed on CBC’s Q, CNN, and BBC, and traveling with his exhibition internationally, Hobin said the he still attributes his success to Tardioli’s mentorship.
Hobin said it was because of this experience he decided to join SPAO and help mentor other aspiring photohraphers.
The work of full-time SPAO students can be seen April 20 to May 5, prior to the gallery’s official launch May 11.