In its 31st year, Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts is adding a new Heritage Properties and Landscapes category to its fall Juried Photography Show.
Patrons Annette Snowdon and Douglas Bean, long-time supporters of the BMFA, have dual passions between photography and heritage and wanted to create the new category.
The juried photo show has been around for a long time and it has gone through different iterations,” said Amber Ebert, director of operations. “In the past there have been different categories, but over the last few years there’s been one general category.Having those parameters might entice different photographers that might have a specialty or a specific interest.”
Committee member Catherine Randall says heritage is a prominent theme as landmarks age and the community weighs in on the discussion around their preservation.
“We are in an interesting time in this region because of the rapid population growth and expansion that is happening,” said Ebert, adding that people are already feeling nostalgic about the grain terminals even though redevelopment plans are not yet being executed.
Photographers may submit photos of structures or natural places which help to tell part of the history and culture of south Georgian Bay. The Juried Photography Show builds on the idea that every picture tells a story, so titling is important, said Randall.
Jurors will consider interior and exterior shots of structures including houses and other dwellings, factories, barns, schools, public buildings, churches, boathouses and sheds, etc. Landscapes could include parks, cemeteries, waterways, vistas, ancient hunting grounds, and areas of religious or spiritual significance.
Photographs of specific features of a heritage property will be accepted – such as a stained glass window, a door, a school bell or a church organ – as long as the photographer can connect it to the property’s history.
As part of the submission process for the category, the artists will be asked to submit their rationale as to how the subject matter fits into the category.
Properties must have been built before the mid-1970s. Buildings erected on a site of historic significance – where something important or memorable happened, but where the original structure no longer exists – may be submitted as long as the descriptor explains such significance to the community. No photos of replicas of heritage properties will be accepted.
Landscapes should also be connected to the Georgian Triangle’s multi-faceted history and can show structures or remnants of buildings or other built heritage. Landscapes can also be connected to spiritual or religious significance; to places related to legends, lore and celebratory activities; or to environments of a sacred nature. Photos of historic trees, gardens, parks, historical trails or other natural heritage landscapes can be submitted.
For the past 30 years, the BMFA has held an annual Juried Photo Show competition and exhibit to showcase and celebrate student and adult photographers from the South Georgian Bay region. On average, the Juried Photo Show receives 100 photos submitted by 70 photographers, with the top 60 selected to be part of a public exhibit running from Sept. 11 to Oct. 27 at the BMFA in Collingwood. The program is organized by a committee of eight BMFA members and supported by the administration. Each year, professional photographers from the region adjudicate the Juried Photo Show using the ASA blind jurying process. The Juried Photo Show has become a staple program for the region’s photographers, allowing artists of all ages and skill levels to participate and promote their work.
Submissions will be accepted until July 31 via bmfa.on.ca. Adults and students living in Ontario can submit entries to the show. The cost per entry is $20, $15 for members, and students can enter for free. (There will be costs associated with framing and matting.)