AFTER WORK BY DOUGLAS MACLELLAN AT LEAMINGTON ARTS CENTRE
After Work by Douglas MacLellan will be on exhibit at Leamington Arts Centre (LAC) from 05 July through 31 July. The thirty print exhibition has been installed by Chad Riley, Executive Director of LAC. Also on display is a handmade orange coloured portfolio on loan from Windsor Workers Education Centre.
After Work is a collaboration with Collette Broeders, a visual artist from LaSalle, Ontario. Digital still and video captures of migrant workers in the Leamington area were made over the course of five months in 2015.
“My work is always personal,” writes MacLellan in his artist statement. “I use a documentary photography style to convey my thoughts and feelings about sense of place, separation and aloneness. I feel bright colours and strong light give the images a deeper emotional feeling. I am attracted to certain well covered documentary subjects with a view to adding something new to the topic.”
MacLellan’s photographs are often identified by bold colours, strong front light, clean organization of visual elements and a sensitivity to the subject. The After Work set reflects an approach where the composition and timing are slightly “off” perhaps suggesting that MacLellan sensed an unease in the situation. These are revealed many times by the subject’s knowing glances. The prints also contribute to this sensation--one first glance they appear dark until the viewers eyes adjust to recognize the resulting detail and subtlety of tone.
“I liked many of the men I met,” wrote MacLellan in his artist statement. “I ended up feeling sympathetic because, like me, they are fathers. They work hard, make a huge sacrifice and are superheroes. I was deeply moved and understood their commitment when I heard stories about their children going to post education schooling--the first ever in the family.”
A public reception will be held on Saturday, 23 July 2016 at the gallery from 1 pm to 3 pm. MacLellan is pleased to offer private tours by appointment. For media requests and other information please contact Douglas MacLellan at the email address or Chad Riley at the Leamington Arts Centre.
The initial photography of After Work was made possible by a Windsor Workers Education Centre Green Shield Canada grant. After Work digital file post production and prints were made in collaboration with Claudio Palmisano Image Toning and Postproduction, Rome, Italy.
