May is the most exciting time of year for Toronto photographers – it’s the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival! With so many talented photographers showing throughout the city (200+ exhibits) it’s hard to choose what to see, and looking through the hundreds of artist previews can be an enormous and overwhelming feat. Although there are many more exhibits that are sure to be captivating, these are 5 of our stops at this year’s Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival. We’ve made sure to include shows that nurture many angles of our inner photographer – from well-crafted interiors and landscapes to vibrant and experimental mixed-media works.
Nicholas Pye @ Birch Contemporary
   Nicholas Pye, Pastoral Expectation, 2014
Running: April 30–May 30
Nicholas’s carefully articulated spaces have a major consideration for light and how it relates to each space. He patiently waits for the perfect illumination watching light change from day to night. “Within these considered spaces, performances were enacted as a response to the types of affect and physical charge each location conjured. By embodying these spaces for the lens, I create still photographs that are rooted in duration and reflect the psychological nature between presence and absence.”
Lujbodrag Andric @ Nicholas Metivier
Ljubodrag Andric, San Francisco 4, 2011
Looking for unlikely landscapes? From interiors to exteriors, Belgrade born photographer Ljubodrag Andric captures simple landscapes that are ambiguous in their location. Andric is drawn to unique environments that ask for simple, symmetrical and careful compositions.
Darren Rigo @ Harbourfront Centre
Darren Rigo, Blending in, 2014
If you’re looking for a walk in the woods, up and coming photographer Darren Rigo can take you there. His photographs take us through a trek in the woods with glimpses of the human presence. Enjoy the nuances and textures of the natural environment in both large and small scale prints. After seeing the show you may feel inspired to take in one of Toronto’s most beautiful natural landscapes – the waterfront.
Dan Brugeron @ Daniels Spectrum
Dan Bergeron, Faces of Regent Park – Jacob-Sukhra, 2015
Dan Bergeron’s location-based work at the entrance of Regent Park is incredibly fun and bright. The original works are mixed-media mounted on Birch, whereas the installation is  made into glass monoliths in the style of the entrance. Each of the 12 works shows a resident of the area infused with colours and patterns to depict their personalities.
Lorenzo Vitturi @ CONTACT Gallery
Lorenzo Vitturi, Yellow 2 from the series Dalston Anatomy, 2013
Running: May 2–June 27
Inspired by the vibrancy of the fruit at his local multi-cultural market, Lorenzo Vitturi began building sculptures from the rich items he collected. Some of these images existed only in book format prior to this show, but now embody sculptural, mural and photographic works at the CONTACT gallery.
