Photoshop

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Michael Fonfara (keyboards with Downchild Blues Band)

14" x 16"

limited edition Inkjet Print

Downchild Blues Band was in attendance at the Winnipeg Jazz festival this year.  This photo was taken during a blues workshop.  

Derrick Gardner at the Cube

10" x 18"

limited edition Inkjet Print

Derrick played the Cube at the Winnipeg Jazz Festival and this photograph was taken there.  Derrick is a part of the music faculty at the University of Manitoba and an active member of Winnipeg's Jazz community.

Chet Breau

12" x 14"

limited edition Inkjet Print

Chet Breau is the son of guitar legend Lenny Breau.  He played the Winnipeg Jazz Festival this year and this image came from his noon concert at the Cube.

Gretna Gothic

18" x 20"

limited edition - 20

This image is about their beginning as newlyweds. My Grandfather was a strong man, and a determined individual. My grandmother was a lady with drive that “stood behind” her husband and supported him throughout their life together.

In 1918 the world had just finished with the first world war, everyone thought that things would go well after that, as no one could imagine the world engaging in another conflict of that size and nature. I placed the figures in front of a wheat field, which represents their dreams and hopes for a stable and positive future. Together they looked forward to a new start and were filled with the optimism that only young people possess. The clouds behind them however have a bit of an ominous quality to them. They are in fact symbols of hardships to come. Who would have foreseen that within 12 years, the world would undergo a massive Depression bringing both economic and agricultural collapse. Together they would have to remain strong, relying upon each other's strength and focus in order to get through the hardships that followed.. Who also would have anticipated that the world would engage in yet another world conflict only 9 years later.

My grandfather was a minister in the Sommerfelder Church and followed his faith without hesitation. As a minister he married many of the local residents from Neubergthal, Sommerfeld, Silberfeld and even as far away as Winkler. Not a long trek by today's standards, but in his day, transportation was by horse and buggy. It seemed however that some members of hia church questioned my grandfather, as he frequently broke with tradition and would marry brides dressed in white, not the traditional black garb worn in that church at the time. He also broke with tradition by marrying couples on their family farms, with family members and guests being present. He was approached by the Bishop at that time, and was told that he must stop doing this, that he must hold with the tradition of the church, where all brides would be dressed in black and services would only be conducted in the church. My grandfather was told that he must recant, and apologize to the congregation in the church, and if he were to do so, he would be able to retain his position as a minister. He was a bit of a “free thinker” and a man of principal. He challenged the Bishop, asking, where the Bible dictated that brides must wear black. Grandpa stated, “it is not the dress that is holy, it is the vows that are taken by the bride and groom which are holy”. Needless to say, my Grandpa did not recant, and had to leave the church as result. My grandfather left the Sommerfelder church and became a Berghtaler following that incident.

I have always been proud of both my grandparents, and admired the fact that they went on with their lives not being angry, but rather even more focused in the manner in which they conducted themselves. This picture is a tribute to them, and when I look at their faces I see a naive optimism that they must have possessed when they began their lives together., Inspite of their difficulties that came with time, they continued to rely on each other and followed their values without question.

Journey

16 x 21

limited edition - 20

This image started as a photograph, taken in a heavy fog, and it lay dormant in one of my folders for some time.  I began to look at it when I was made aware of the fact that a very important person to me would be turning 100 years of age this year.  I wanted to find a symbol for his life's journey, one that he would be able to relate to and understand.  This particular piece of track is still in use today, however it requires a good deal of maintenance and support, not unlike an individual who has reached this age.  The track has no clearly defined destination, just the same as it is for all people at the time of their birth. This individual has always appeared focused, in that he pursued his values and beliefs without  giving in to the distractions that surround us all.  He is a man of value, and peace.  This piece of straight track, although a simple object has both colour and beauty in it.  It is a strong image, and one that has few distractions.  Even when the train no longer runs, the track will remain as a reminder of the time when it did.  The image is for you Mr.Neufeld.

                                                                          The narrowing track

                                                                          draws me deeper into the softening edges

                                                                          of life's mystery

                                                                          and

                                                                          the light's promise of joy

                                                                          in the moments we share

                                                                                                                       -Shaun Friesen

This poem was written for this image by a dear friend of mine, who has the ability to express and capture thoughts in writing.  The image and poem were made into a card and given to Mr.Neufeld, and it seems that he has understood what our intentions were.

Jazz Duo
19" x 28"
limited edition - 20

Composite of two photographs reworked in a manner not unlike a Silkscreen print using multiple layers and filters to give the final image a feeling of both photography as well as a lithographic quality.  It was made following a fairwell concert by George Reznick and his band.  The drummer is a part of George's band, however the trumpet player arrived to jam with the band at this event.

 George Reznik "Farewell Gig at the Pemby"
18" x 24
limited edition -20

This photograph was edited in Photoshop using multiple layers and filters, colour values and textures were  adjusted to create a different sense.  One can see that the piano and microphone cable have not  been adjusted and remain the actual photograph.  The other elements have been worked in a manner to create an "Impressionist" type feeling.  Each time that George started a new song he would just slip away into his own "space" and become a part of his music.  The attempt is to convey that moment.

George Reznick
"Farewell Gig at the Pemby #2"
10" x 14"
limited edition - 20

George was 82 when he played this last gig.  At that time he had played in various city bars and clubs.  He was a vibrant part of the jazz community in Winnipeg, and remains so.  I have focused on his hands and face in an attempt to show "the old master".  It was a beautiful event to see someone doing what they loved with a passion, and when he played he invited those in attendance to take the trip with him as he explored his music.  This is for you George.

Saxman

18" x 24"
limited edition - 20

...on the street

24" x 36"

A composite of two photographs, the musician, and the street.

Surface Tension
22" x 28"
limited edition -20

This is a composite of 3 different photographs.  The angles and implied movement of the flautist's arms and instruments is repeated in the stair case.  The opacity of the one musician is reduced in order that it could give the impression of a reflection on glass.  One could not actually photograph this image, as there is no place for the camera to record it.  The ambiguity of the space in this image lead to the title.

Dancer
18" x 24"
limited edition - 20

This is an attempt to create a silkscreen like image using the photographic process.  The image is not grounded but rather occupies an undefined space.  The Shaman dances and those who observe are taken to another level.  The textures and lines of the ground are intended to provide places for the eye to wonder without a finite space.

Kokopelli

Kokopelli is a Hopi word and the image comes from the Anasazi (ancient people).  Kokopelli is a fertility god, prankster,healer and story teller.  I had made a drawing of Kokopelli while in New Mexico, this is a photograph of that drawing replicated 3 times.  Kokopelli is presented for you to look at and hopefully wonder about his story.  Additional information is intentionally not provided for that very reason.

18" x 24"
limited edition - 20

"Papa, whose rights does the 2nd Amendment protect?"

20" x 14"
limited edition - 20

This is a reproduction of an advertisement that was run in Harper's Weekly in 1913.  The original is a small black and white newspaper print.  This past year has been particularly violent and sad for America.  I found this ad after the shooting at Newtown and could not get over it.  This sort of thinking has been about for some period of time.  What affected me most was the juxtaposition of childhood innocence and the promotion of firearms.  The image left me angry and sad.  This is not an attempt to make a political statement per se, I just want people to see this and react to it in their own way, hopefully to think.

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