"Vernacular Moments - Hidden Laneways of Toronto”
a photography exhibit by the late Galen Kuellmer

Four years ago Galen Kuellmer opened the first show of some of these images, showing little seen laneways, at Toronto Image Works Gallery. Twelve days later he died, a victim of a bicycle accident. The images in this current show have been printed as a special limited edition series to benefit the trust fund set up in his name. The fund awards prizes to little known struggling artists to give them a boost on their way to establishing a career as artists seeking to present their own vision. To date four separate artists have received funds.

As Galen cycled laneways and back roads of Toronto his artistic eye selected architectural curiosities and anomalies which he recorded using a 4 x 5 studio camera on a custom-built bicycle trailer. Printed to 20 x 24, they show great detail, and composition while recording a side of Toronto little seen or exhibited. The pieces exhibit a keen aesthetic, sense of colour and proportion as well as a sense of humour. While indicating a sense of historicity as these sites disappear, we are left to imagine the human interactions that led to the architectural realities. Many are now historical documents as the ever active human hand paints over or demolishes or otherwise alters the urban landscapes in this show. Galen’s sense of composition brings value to scenes that we might otherwise dismiss as everyday.

Galen Dagda Kuellmer was born May 13, 1974 in Toronto, Canada. During his childhood he traveled with his family to Europe, Asia and Mexico. At 17, for his last course in high school, he wrote in one of his assignments, “One of the most important aspects of my life lies in the fact that I consider myself an artist ….. I have ambitions of becoming a great artist but I am also concerned with doing it in a manner that is enjoyable, otherwise it is not worth doing.” In 1997 Galen graduated with a BFA from NASCAD. He then pursued both his dream of traveling more and becoming a photographer. He worked as an assistant to Arnaud Maggs and Geoffrey James while continuing with his own photographic explorations. After traveling to Mexico in early 2004 he was putting a new body of work together when, on May 12, 2004, he died in a bicycle accident. The work in this show is a small portion of what he was working on and has been brought together by his family, mentors and dear friends. We hope that he would be pleased with the results and that you, the viewer, enjoy a glimpse of this inspiring, talented and delightful young artist’s perspective.

‘Vernacular Moments – Hidden Laneways of Toronto’ Photography Exhibition
*Hotshot
181 Augusta Avenue
Show runs from May 1 - 21, 2008.
www.hotshotkensington.com