Here we go!

This afternoon Shifting Perspectives went from an idea to a reality. Years of photos, thoughts, and work both on my craft and my mental health, are now on display at Gallery 978 in Toronto.

It was, and is, a surreal feeling. At one point, as Lucy hung one of my photos and we looked to see if it was in a good spot and at a good height, I took a step back and thought “Wow, that’s a great photo.” And I found myself thinking the photographer must be really happy with that shot.

“Oh, wait. That photographer is me.”

I do want to take this back a bit and thank a bunch of people.

Kat helped me get everything printed. She was the first person who got to see my reaction to the photos as we pulled the rolls of paper out. The prints were big sheets, with 4 photos on each one, and I was trying to figure out how to cut them to size while not bending and ruining them.

The photo Kat took of me at that moment is perfect.

Stressed, worried, but also happy at what I was seeing.

I spent days trying to track down used frames, only to give up because Toronto’s thrift stores didn’t have anything useful.

But my father managed to find the only frame that isn’t from Ikea in the show. It’s gorgeous and I can’t wait to use it at home when this is over.

And finally, instillation day.

My friends, Adam and Todd, helped me get everything in today, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it as easily, and it certainly wouldn’t have been as much fun, without them.

There’s no turning back now, not that I want to really. Since the day I emailed the gallery (May 6th, 2024) I have been on this path to do something that has terrified me. Today, it’s a reality. The photos are in. The stories are shared. The show is on.