SPARK Photo Festival Announces 10 Year Anniversary Fundraiser Event

In celebration of photography and the mission to support emerging artists and long-time photographers alike, SPARK Photo Festival is hosting a Pub Night, Pop-Up Sale, Sneak Peek event on March 29 at The Publican House Brew Pub. 

photo courtesy of spark photo festival.

This April’s month-long festival boasts the voices and vision of more than 90 participating photographers as SPARK celebrates 10 years of the organization.

This event offers festival fans and photographers a chance to mix and mingle, shop prints with the SPARK-To-Go Pop-Up sale, sample appetizers and dive into a sneak peek of the over 25 2023 SPARK Photo Festival exhibits with art from over 100 photographers.

The event will run from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at 294 Charlotte St.

Funds raised will be used for the SPARK mission to provide workshop supplies, exhibit materials, signage and festival maps to bring this free-to-visit arts festival to the community. 

Tickets: $50 per person, which includes appetizers (cash bar available). For more event information, or tickets, visit the website.

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SPARK Photo Festival Welcoming Submissions From the Community, Celebrating Ten-Year-Anniversary

April 2023 marks the 10-year anniversary of the SPARK Photo Festival, and plans are underway to celebrate the past decade and focus toward the future of photography through Open Call Exhibits.

Photo courtesy of SPARK Photo Festival.

Each year since 2013, photography exhibits are displayed in public places throughout Peterborough, Northumberland and City of Kawartha Lakes and the festival has become a much-anticipated arts event.

All photographers are welcome to the Open Call Exhibits, whether you shoot with high-tech equipment, smart phone or a vintage film camera. Displays can be printed, framed, on canvas, posters or even a projection project, as long as it features still photography, it fits into SPARK.

“The SPARK Photo Festival exists for the community. Our free-to-visit festival is accessible to all and highlights the local photography talent that abounds in the region,” says Ken Powell, chair and board of directors member. “We are delighted to be marking this 10th anniversary and have many favourite festival components returning, plus new innovations.”

The Juried Exhibit has been growing each year with a record number of entries from photographers across Ontario for 2022. SPARK is now accepting photographers’ entries for next year’s theme of Water.

The competition is open to all Ontario residents, and each photographer is eligible to submit up to 3 images. All submitted images are judged by a jury of photography professionals. The top 25 images will be exhibited at Chasing the Cheese in Peterborough, and the best of the best will be awarded with cash prizes. Submissions close Feb. 1.

Photographers interested in showing their work but don’t know where to start will have the opportunity to apply for a program for first-time exhibitors. Full details of the new Emerging Artists Exhibit program are to be released soon.

For all details for the Open Call Exhibits and Themed Juried Exhibit and online entry, visit the SPARK website.

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SPARK Photo Festival Launches App For Mapped Exhibits Around Peterborough

Seeing the work of 26 artists throughout April became more convenient as the 2022 SPARK Photo Festival launched a mobile app mapping exhibits across Peterborough that launched Monday.

“Big Yellow Taxi” by Heather Doughty. Doughty developed a passion for nature combined with her photography and is located at 129 Hunter St. W. Photo courtesy of SPARK Photo Festival.

The free app Toureka! — developed by Peterborough’s Brad Carson — contains digital versions of each exhibit with information and provides pinpoint locations for viewing each piece in person. The festival runs throughout April until the 30th.

The interactive map on the website is the web-browser version of the app. There is also have a print brochure (with an old-school map), free to pick up at exhibit venues.

“These new digital tools allow visitors to find more information about the photographers, the venues, and exhibit hours while on-the-go, at the same time reducing our environmental impact,” says Ken Powell, Chair, SPARK Board of Directors. “The photographers and venues put in a huge amount of effort creating their exhibits and we’re making it easier for everyone to find them and tour the region throughout the month.”

The app’s funding came from the Ontario Trillium Foundation Community Building Fund. The grant covered a portion of the operating costs to help SPARK recover from the effects of the pandemic.

There will be a QR code posted at each exhibit that visitors can scan to visit the SPARK website and get direct links to the interactive Festival map and the app stores or get the Toureka! app online. Everything you need to visit SPARK is at your fingertips.

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2022 SPARK Photo Festival Puts Call Out For Photographers

The 2022 SPARK Photo Festival has put a call out to photographers wishing to apply to participate.

Photo courtesy of SPARK Photo Festival.

The festival will run Apr. 1 - 30.

Registration for Open Call Exhibits and entries for the Themed Juried Exhibit “Monochrome” close in just a few weeks.

Photographers of any skill level and any style are welcome to create an exhibit. Exhibit as an individual, small group (2 to 5 people), a group (6 or more) or as a community group. Special registration rates are available for students and community groups.

Those interested are encouraged to find their own venue, or get in touch with SPARK for assistance. Any location that’s accessible to the public in Peterborough city and county, in City of Kawartha Lakes and in Northumberland County can be a SPARK venue. Participants prepare their images and their exhibit. First-time exhibitors, students, seasoned professionals and anyone in between are invited to learn more and register online by Feb. 7.

SPARK provides guidance and promotional material to participants.

For the audience-favourite Themed Juried Exhibit all submissions will be judged by a jury of three photography professionals. The top 25 images will be exhibited in a prominent Peterborough location throughout the month of April. The top images will be awarded cash prizes. Each photographer is eligible to enter up to 3 images and the competition is open to any Ontario resident. Entries are accepted until Feb. 1. All details and online entry are on the SPARK website.

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SPARK Photo Festival Winners Announced

The winners of the 2021 Themed Juried Exhibit at the SPARK Photo Festival were revealed on Wednesday.

The 2021 Juried Exhibit Theme was Nourish: To Eat, To Drink, To Enjoy.
Best in Show was awarded to Fine Art Pear by Melissa Maahs.

Winners of the 2021 SPARK Themed Juried Exhibit Nourish: To Eat, To Drink, To Enjoy competition from entries by photographers from across Ontario.

This year there were two double-winning photographers who will take home a cash prize.

From the top 25 images selected by the jury, the Best in Show is Fine Art Pear by Melissa Maahs, Second Place is Hots by Laura Berman, Third Place is Fall Harvest by Melissa Maahs of Courtice and Honourable Mention is Crunch by Laura Berman of Castleton.

To view all winning entries click here.

The winners, along with all Top 25 images, are on display outdoors on George Street for spectators to view.

Find the Exhibit listings with information about the artists, venue locations and operating hours and the downloadable digital catalogue here. Pick up your own copy of the keepsake print catalogue at exhibit venues.

The SPARK Photo Festival is on until Sept. 30.

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SPARK Photo Festival Opens September 1

The SPARK Photo Festival opens this Wednesday and runs through September 30 in more than twenty venues throughout Peterborough City and County, and in Fenelon Falls, Lindsay and Northumberland County.

Toronto’s Lucas DeClavasio and his photo “Focus” won the “Focus on Coffee” photography competition held by Spark Photo Festival in March. Photo courtesy of SPARK Photo Festival.

There are over 25 exhibits showing the works of over 100 photographers, some returning photographers who have participated in every SPARK festival as well as several first-time exhibitors.

“We’re delighted to see the enthusiasm and excitement of the exhibiting photographers who have persevered through delays and uncertainty since our April 2020 Festival was postponed due to COVID-19”, said Festival Director Jennifer MacKenzie.

The prize-winning images for the 2021 Themed Juried Exhibit Nourish: To Eat, To Drink, To Enjoy will be announced on opening night.

Tune in to social media at 8:30 p.m. on September 1 for the reveal of the top four entries as selected by a jury from the submissions by photographers from across Ontario. The Nourish exhibit will be displayed outdoors on George Street, south of Venture North.

SPARK Photo Festival is made possible by the presenting sponsor LLF Lawyers, the City of Peterborough and the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough and Electric City Culture Council through the Peterborough Arts Alive Grant and by the official media sponsor Global Peterborough, The Wolf and Fresh Radio.

Visit sparkphotofestival.org, SPARK Photo Festival on Facebook and Instagram for all of the latest Exhibit details, including new venues, opening hours, receptions and workshops.

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Winner of Peterborough Photo Festival Announced

Toronto’s Lucas DeClavasio and his photo “Focus” won the “Focus on Coffee” photography competition on Tuesday held by Spark Photo Festival back on March 12.

DeClavasio’s photography style has been described as abstract/experimental according to his Instagram page. Photo Courtesy of Spark Photo Festival.

The winning image was unanimously voted as the winner that best represented a creative, imaginative and technically well-executed interpretation of the competition theme, “coffee at home” according to the press release.

“Focus” will be exhibited at the 2021 SPARK Photo Festival in when it will reopen in September and featured on the packaging of a special edition Sparkplug X SPARK Photo Festival 2021 Coffee. This special edition coffee will be released in time for the festival in September and will be available for purchase online across Canada.

DeClavasio submitted a unique series of digital double-exposure images that impressed the judges. They said he planned each of the five images to poetically reflect each stage of coffee at home from the craving, to the first sip and through to the last drop.

“The double exposure is captured in-camera with the intention of portraying the physical effects of caffeine,” DeClavasio described. “The feeling of that first sip, it's like your body is in bloom and your mind is ready for whatever the day has in store for you.”

The Toronto-based amateur photographer credits the pandemic for his return from a photography hiatus.

“I needed a creative outlet,” he said. “My overarching goal with my photography is to embrace the chaos surrounding us, reconnect with my surroundings, and hopefully find a way to mentally cope with all these external factors.”

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The SPARK Photo Festival Venue Crawl Is April 12th

The Kawartha Camera Club is hosting a SPARK Photo Festival Venue Crawl on Saturday, April 12th. Everyone is welcome.

Park at the City Hall parking lot and assemble at the Black Horse Pub (452 George St. North) for lunch at 11 a.m. After lunch, everyone will break into smaller groups and visit the various venues of the SPARK Photo Festival. The feature exhibit is the Fairbairn-McKenzie Showcase at the former 'Y' building from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the club.

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Red Pashmina Announces Next Phase Of Their Campaign, Recognizing Women In Peterborough

Thanks to the Peterborough community, the Red Pashmina Campaign was able to raise $6,700 in 2012 for women in Afghanistan. The money will go toward supporting their Lantern Fund, an initiative that funds teacher training programs in Afghanistan.

The next phase of the campaign will focus on the local component—to recognize and celebrate the incredible women in Peterborough by sharing their stories. Ten women nominated by the community before January 31^st will be profiled in the Red Pashmina photo exhibit during the SPARK Photo Festival. The campaign will be working with five local photographers on photo essays to be displayed at Natas Cafe this April. Proceeds from the auctioning of the photos will go toward educating women and girls in Afghanistan. If you wish to sponsor a photo essay or for more info, email redpashminacampaign@gmail.com.

Watch these videos from the Red Pashmina team of Maryam Monsef and Jessica Melnik to learn more...

[Red Pashmina Campaign]

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SPARK Photo Festival In Peterborough Region Has Call for Submissions

Calling all photographers, SPARK Photo Festival has an open call for submissions...

The SPARK PHOTO FESTIVAL is a celebration of photography, and the artists, dreamers, innovators, storytellers, professionals and enthusiasts behind the camera lens. Every year, the month of April will mark the arrival of numerous photographic exhibits and artists, workshops, lectures and other related photographic events and activities in locations throughout the Greater Peterborough Region. The festival sponsored Showcase exhibit for April 2013, will feature the Balsillie Collection of Roy Studio Images for the first time ever curated from a photographers point of view. All other exhibits feature an open call for registration. The photographer is being asked to arrange a venue (we have a list of venues available) and curate their own exhibit. Details are in the Registration Package. Final Registration Deadline: February 1, 2013

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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