Book - Exhibition Projects

 by Michael

Mother’s Prayer

Mother’s Prayers

Stories begin to tell themselves over the years. Here I have gathered pieces to tell you the story of my Mother and a piece of land she bought with my Father back in 1965, a year before I was born. Over the years it has become more difficult for her physically and financially. The foundation of the old house began to shift and with it its walls until things fall apart. In this work I explore physical, financial and emotional shifts as well as the persistence of the human spirit to continue to struggle for a future beyond our years.

The future is uncertain future. What am I to do oh Lord? Guild me
The mattress over the years soaks up all our dreams and nighmares.
Not even fire can burn away what the mind stores.
When the mind wanders so does the body ... and the nights are filled with terror.
Plank by plank the walls disappeared. A whole life time of colour stripped to black and white ... shapes and forms shifting with each season.
From the darkness memories attack. Where are you Lord
Mornings are always cold. The light beautifully illuminates ... and provides a little warmth.
This sickness shall pass and I will heal.
With the light hope. A humble whisper to the Lord.
From the deep subconscious I reach out.. and pull myself out..
My Bloody Eye you'll take advantage of me ... not this day my friend.
I will survive ... I will thrive!
I will collect and harvest.
I will rebuild and gather.
I will continue to plant oh Lord ... because it must be done.
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 by Michael

Our Royal Victoria Hospital

 No two eyes see the same thing … I have examined re examined the Royal Victoria Hospital where I worked before the move to the Glen Site. Each day I saw the faces and corridors in a fresh light … our hospital was an extraordinary series of inter connected buildings and inter relationships. In this series of photographs I have chosen to focus on our work environment devoid of people, but in such a way you can still feel a human presence … our presence … we who worked and died there. It is our dwelling place no more … except in memory.

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 by Michael

South Korea Then

A very long over due post … from the days when I was living in South Korea. My film days, one of the reasons it has taken me awhile to revisit my negatives. All these pictures pre-date the year 2000 … which means this is my 20 th century version. Stay tuned as I venture back back into the archives and re-edit and select … all this as I prepare to go back to South Korea for a long over due visit! stay tuned … in the mean time here is an introduction to what hopefully will grow into a book … enjoy.

Cheers Michael

Self Portrait

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 by Michael

My Lolita Story

 It is time to turn up the heat on the dirty end of winter … and so this update on an ongoing story  … Over the past few years I have been photographing and reinterpreting the Lolita story; Variations on a theme. I have read and re-read the novel by Vladimir Nabokov and watched the 1962 Stanley Kubrick version of the movie once again; as well as the 1997 version directed by Adrian Lyne starring Jeremy Irons: two excellent movies filled with rich imagery. For my own part I had brought together 3 different women who were interested in the theme … stirred in some personal stock images which I have been accumulating over the past few years and concocted this version of my Lolita Story. Enjoy and stay tuned as the story continues to grow … Cheers Michael

Senior Lolita

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 by Michael

Portrait Portfolio: Sisters at the Maison Jesus Marie

At last is has come to present my final portfolio for my Dawson graduation. It has been an interesting semester and process. Initially I was looking at presenting 2 markets, one in portraiture and one in Advertising/Illustration. Unfortunately, this second did not materialize  as a series and I concentrated on the portraiture. These 11 images were shot at the residence Marie Jesus, and the women in these photo’s are nuns, all of them teachers and very special people. I especially want to thank Sister Helen from making this project happen and introducing me to this wonderful and warm community, and I also want to Thank Valerie Simmons, my portfolio adviser for her patience and professionalism. Thank you all for this challenging and wonderful experience. Cheers. Postscript: the first sister in my series Julienne Duval born in Feb 1916 died on the 1st of January 2016. She had planed her funeral from A to Z and had used my portrait of her to commemorate her life. I am happy to have had the opportunity to see and capture her smile.

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