Constrict and Release: The Alley Project
This photo series was shot during the COVID-19 pandemic, where alleys became a valued space to walk, in order to avoid people and to have a safe space for oneself. Alleys, during the constriction of COVID-19, allowed for a release and a sense of freedom; alleys lessened anxiety when walking to a destination, to buy necessary supplies, to play, or to go for a more spacious walk in the neighborhood. During the photo documentation of the many beautiful alleys in Vancouver, I became acutely aware of the multitude of uses of our valuable and much overlooked neighbourhood alleys. The themes of density and the historical nature of our city often came to mind as I documented these alleys. The geographical range of neighbourhood alleys spanned from Pt Grey to Boundary Vancouver-side (West to East), and from downtown to 25th Avenue (North to South).
To date, I have taken 700 photos, and have chosen my 25 favorites to share in the photo series. These pieces are 12” x 12” in size. Each is an archival pigment print on cotton paper, mounted on deep cradled hardboard, and ready to hang; a few photos have been done in black and white.
Recently, I have painted 11, 10” x 10” , 2, 24”x24”, and one 30” x 24” oil paintings which reference these ubiquitous alleys. These alleys have taken on their own personalities, and exude the sense of calm and timeless beauty found in our many Vancouver Alleys. Nine of the small 11 paintings have been sold, but Limited Edition high quality prints on cotton paper are available to pre-order. Two sizes are available:
10” x 10” for $80 each, Limited Edition of 5
20” x 20” for $220 each, Limited Edition of 5
Please contact me for more information.