Cameras In The Community Exhibition.
April 3, 2011
Cameras in the Community at Plymouth Arts Centre was a contemporary photographic exhibition curated by Fotonow, a Plymouth based photographic organisation, working across the South West of England.
The exhibition revealed Fotonow’s mission to create opportunities in photography and facilitate socially motivated projects, and explored the documentation of communities through a variety of approaches to photographic practice.
The show featured The Free Photographic Omnibus by Daniel Meadows; The South West Graduate Prize with work by Teo Ormond-Skeaping, Celine Smith, Kirsty Gash, Sarah Jackson, Amelia Stewart and Kirsty Thomas; Camper Obscura (Jon Blyth and Matthew Pontin) in Devonport; ‘Fotobooth’ where audience members were invited to make their own portraits that uploaded immediately to Flickr and The Launderette Residencies by Jamie Webb and myself.
© Tim Mills. Angie. Bubbles Launderette, Plymouth. 20”x 30”. 2010.
© Tim Mills. Liz and Nic. Bubbles launderette, Plymouth. 20”x 30”. 2010.
© Tim Mills. Kim. Bubbles launderette, Plymouth. 20”x 30”. 2010.
Alongside the three portraits (above), a documentary (below) of my time spent at Bubbles Launderette was projected, complementing Jamie’s ‘Floor Observations’ ‘Bags and Baskets’, ‘Literary Observations’ and ‘Window Gazing’ series.
The Laundry Room also included a selection of images by Tracey and Kelly from Bubbles Launderette; Tracey’s holiday in Las Vegas and the departure of Kelly’s Husband on-board HMS Cumberland, both events that took place during the residency.
The exhibition concluded with the Cameras in the Community symposium, which presented an opportunity to explore and reflect upon the photographer’s response to engaging with communities and the role of the archive in contemporary photographic practice. Daniel Meadows, Val Williams, Pete James, The Caravan Gallery and Fotonow all featured to examine the theme, with a panel discussion chaired by David Chandler.
Documentation of the show courtesy of Simon Keitch can be viewed here.
© Tim Mills. Launderette Residency Film. 2010.
