This weekend’s edition of Doors Open Toronto focuses on photography with a number of locations presenting photo exhibitions, as well as artist talks with a range of accomplished local photographers, many of them specializing in shooting buildings and interiors. That’s Toronto’s Tom Arban, above, shooting from the top of the TD Centre; he’s one of several pros participating in Ask a Photographer Q&A sessions (Arban will be at Diamond+Schmitt Architects HQ at 2 pm Saturday).
This year’s roster of buildings opening their doors to the public includes rare access to the R.C. Harris Water Filtration Plant, Fire Stations 311 and 227, the TTC’s McCowan and Roncesvalles Carhouses, the Toronto Harbour Commission Building, the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael’s Hospital, Native Child and Family Services of Toronto, the Empress Building, the High Park Club and Corus Quay.
Most of the participating buildings are open from 10 am to 5 pm; check the website for individual venue details.
Additionally, this year’s Doors Open Toronto will be holding an online photo contest, as well as featuring free downtown performances by five ensembles drawn from Toronto’s internationally acclaimed Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra (above).
Visitors to Fort York National Historic Site will be able to discover the magic of black and white pinhole photography through a special exhibition by documentary photographic artist Tod Ainslie. Using traditionally-built, replica pinhole cameras with varying focal lengths, Ainslie captures views of fortifications and buildings at War of 1812 sites around the Great Lakes and Eastern North America. Images and reproduction cameras will be on display and the artist will be on hand to interpret the work and technology.
Renowned portrait photographer Al Gilbert, left, will be in attendance at his studio along with 80 of his portraits, including those of Oscar Peterson, Nathan Phillips, Jean Beliveau, A.J. Casson, Robertson Davies, Golda Meir, Kenneth Thomson, Seymour Schulich, Joseph Biden, Lincoln Alexander and Pope John Paul II. Visitors will also see a fully-functioning photographic dark-room and a six-minute video biography created to honour the Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed upon Gilbert by the Professional Photographers of America, of which he is a Fellow.
The National Film Board Mediatheque has assembled a digital photography exhibit from its collection from the 1940s to the present day, and will have a cinema program featuring historical and current films on photography and architecture. This location will also have family activities including animation workshops featuring a vintage Toronto scene with a streetcar, and a digital storytelling workshop for children and families who can bring in their photos to be shown how to make a digital story with sound and images.
Canada’s National Ballet School visitors will be guided through the Celia Franca Centre and will be able to observe community, recreational dance classes. In addition, Joel Benard’s photo exhibition “Grounded”, featuring NBS professional ballet program students, will be on display in Mona Campbell Square.
Cannon Design on University Avenue will mount an exhibit of photography that explores how architects view the city, entitled Toronto: City in Focus. The large scale photographs will be displayed throughout the studio for visitors to view as they experience Cannon Design’s studio space. Models and images of completed projects as well as projects at every stage of design and construction will be displayed.
The Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario’s new home (designed by modo) at the Toy Factory Lofts in Liberty Village features exposed beams, sleek touches of steel and glass and furnishings by design icons. Visitors can view 75 years of interior design photos as well as speak with interior designers.
Diamond+Schmitt Architects will host a number of talks by architectural photographers and designers. Talks will be by Tom Arban, one of Toronto’s top architectural photographers (May 28 at 2 p.m.), designers from Cicada Design will talk about architectural rendering (design interpretations that often look like real photography), and Jon Soules (one of the firm’s principals) will talk about architecture water colour painting.
Doors Open Toronto will officially launch on Friday, May 27 when the Royal Ontario Museum opens its doors to the public for free from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. (excluding its ticketed event “Water: The Exhibition”).
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