Lambton Arts Collective

 

By:  Lisa Cattran

The Lambton College second year students have been very busy lately (perhaps that should read a little busier than usual?). The Lambton Arts Collective opened on Friday, February 2nd, at the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts in Sarnia, Ontario.  The Lambton Arts Collective is an exhibit which runs until February 22nd and features work from the College’s Arts programs:  photography, pottery/ceramics, drawing and spoken word.

Studio Manager Emily Nutson and Instructor David Chidley

hang a photograph at the Lawrence House Centre for the

Arts in Sarnia, Ontario on Tuesday, January 30th, 2018.

(Lisa Cattran)

As a requirement of their Digital Darkroom II class, the second year students submitted two photographs to hang in the exhibit with the subject matter left completely up to their descretion.  That may sound simple enough, but there was much more work that went into the final two photographs than one might at first assume.  To begin with, the students had to make their photographs. It is not a matter of just pointing a camera and shooting.  Students use the knowledge that they have learned through their time in the program to find the perfect light and create the most appealing composition. The next step is importing the photograph into their computers and utilizing editing programs to enhance the photo to make it look the best that it can.  Once the students are happy with their final product, it is time to print.  Printing is quite a process unto itself.  Again, it is not simple: you do not just press a button like you would for a word document.  Printing a photograph involves developing several test prints and going back and re-editing your photo a number of times so that you have the right colour, density and contrast.  It is not a quick process by any means.  The photographs then need to be made ready for hanging at the exhibition: matting and framing.  The students were also responsible for this final step.  Participating in the Lambton Arts Collective is a great learning experience that helps to prepare the students for their final solo gallery which will be exhibited in early April.

Richard Beland....

...Dave Chidley work together!

A couple of students along with Studio Manager Emily Nutson and faculty members Richard Beland and Dave Chidley went a few days beforehand to hang all of the photographs.  Much thought went into the correct placement of the various photographs, along with the perfect space between these photos.

Opening night was especially exciting for three of the students.  Tanis Wright won First Place in the President’s Award for Photography for her photo “And the Lord Said.” Richard Morretin won an honourable mention for his photo “Reflections - New York City Construction.”  Shawna Lavoie also won an honourable mention for her photo “Essence of Milk.”  It was a busy and intense process for all and well worth the effort even for those who did not walk away with a prize.

Guests enjoy the photographs at the Lambton Arts Collective at the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts in Sarnia, Ontario on Friday, February 2nd, 2018. (Lisa Cattran)

Instructor David Chidley chats with Ryan Gibbs,  at the Lambton Arts Collective at the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts in Sarnia, Ontario on Friday, February 2nd, 2018. (Lisa Cattran)

Students and their families gather to enjoy the photos at the Lambton Arts Collective at the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts in Sarnia, Ontario on Friday, February 2nd, 2018. (Lisa Cattran)

Tanis Wright poses in front of her award winning photo "And the Lord Said" at the Lambton Arts Collective at the Lawrence House Centre for the Arts in Sarnia, Ontario on Friday, February 2nd, 2018. (Lisa Cattran