Preston Street BIA and the School of Photographic Arts (SPAO) debut a first-of-its-kind outdoor arts exhibition at SPAO’s Open House, happening Friday, November 24th from 5 to 9pm. You can purchase prints from SPAO’s talented students for your holiday gifting, check out a new exhibition, and celebrate in style with Ottawa creatives while vibing to music by a local acclaimed performer Rebecca Noelle.
Photo provided.
The SPAO Photo Walk is an ongoing and evolving outdoor installation featuring large-scale photographic artworks designed to enhance Ottawa’s Little Italy neighbourhood, draw attention to local businesses, and engage with residents and tourists alike. Participants can access the map and information for a self-guided tour via QR codes located next to each artwork, providing opportunities to learn more about the artists, the neighbourhood, and participating businesses.
The photographs were selected from a nationwide open call and by an assessor jury made up of nationally recognized industry leaders, including the former Chief Curator at the National Gallery of Canada. The other jurors are Robert Steven (Director of the Portrait Gallery of Canada), Sylvia Dreaver ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᐏᐣ (Emerging Curator of Indigenous Art at the Canadian Museum of History), and Frédéric Loury (Founder of Art Souterrain in Montreal).
Fun fact: there were over 500 submissions! It will be awesome to see art from all over Canada grace Ottawa’s Little Italy neighbourhood.
Art by Hannah Doucett.
Designed as a photographic treasure hunt of sorts, visitors and tourists alike will explore and engage with our vibrant neighbourhood that links Commissioner’s Park to Lebreton Flats.
Art by Seamus Gallagher.
The SPAO Photo Walk will uphold our community values, ensuring that diverse Canadian voices are shared and amplified, reflecting the diversity of Canadian communities such as that of Little Italy.
“The Little Italy SPAO Photo Walk was born out of a shared goal to elevate the level of public art on Preston Street, while giving a voice to diverse artists from across Canada,” says Lindsay Childerhose, Executive Director at the Preston Street BIA. “The walk offers an outdoor, self guided art experience that takes you on a journey throughout Ottawa’s Little Italy. Grab lunch or a latte at one of our many restaurants and cafes, then hit the street to explore.”
The launch event on November 24th is free and open to the public.
