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RobertBurleyAnEnduringWilderness:Toronto’sNaturalParklands
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CONTENTSListofWorks……………3
Forward……………4
Introduction……………5
Photographs:AnEnduringWilderness……………6
EssaybyCarlaGarnet……………10
InstallImages……………15
PublicEngagementProgramming……………17
• EnduringPhotographs:RobertBurleyinconversationwithTorontoPhotoLaureateGeoffreyJames• Toronto’sNaturalParklandsinthenewMillenium:Theroleofnaturalparklandsinbuildingagreatcity
• EnduringWilderness/NatureintheCity:Exploringthecomplexrelationshipbetweennatureandthecity
ArtistandCuratorBiographies……………22
CatalogueDesignbyErinStorus
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LISTOFWORKSFrontPage:ScarboroughBluffsPark,2014
Page6:BeachfrontneartheTorontoHuntForest,2014
Page7:FishingbeneaththeMacdonald-CartierFreeway,RougePark,2015
Page8:HomelessmanbeneaththePrinceEdwardViaduct,2013
Page9:Untitled
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FORWARD
TheJohnB.AirdGalleryisdelightedtopresentaprimarysoloexhibitionforthe2017ScotiabankCONTACTPhotographyFestivalbytherenownedCanadianphotographerRobertBurley,entitled:AnEnduringWilderness:Toronto’sNaturalParklands.ThisexhibitionfeaturesaselectionofworksfromBurley’sremarkablephotographicseries,alongwithanaerialmap,avideoandothervisualizationsoflandscapethatreflecttheartist’sinterestintheCityofToronto’sparklands,waterfrontsandravinesystems.TheCityofTorontocommissionedBurleytocreatethiscollectionofphotographscelebratingToronto’snaturalspacesasawaytobothexamineandpromoteourtwenty-first-centuryrelationshiptonature.TheexhibitionaccompaniesBurley’snewbook,AnEnduringWilderness:Toronto’sNaturalParklands,publishedbyECWPress,withtextsbyTorontowritersGeorgeElliottClarke,AnneMichaels,MichaelMitchell,LeanneBetasamosakeSimpson,andAlissaYork.
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INTRODUCTIONToronto’sNaturalParklandsinthenewMillennium:Theroleofnaturalparklandsinbuildingagreatcity,theexhibitionandbookcouldnothavecomeaboutwiththehardworkanddedicationtheartistRobertBurleyandJaneWeningerseniorplannerwithTorontoCityPlanningresponsiblefornaturalheritageandenvironmentalpolicy.JaneandRoberthavebeenworkingonthisprojectsince2012whentheCityPlanningandParks,ForestryandRecreationDivisionscommissionedthenaturalparklandsphotographs.PartoftheimpetusforthisworkwasJane'sprojecttodesignateenvironmentallysignificantareasacrossTorontointheCity'sOfficialPlan.JanealsoworksextensivelyontheGreenBeltPlanandtheestablishmentoftheRougeNationalUrbanPark.
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PHOTOGRAPHS:ANENDURINGWILDERNESS
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RobertBurley:AnEnduringWildernessbyCarlaGarnetIthasbeenarguedthatsociety’srelationshipto
naturewasredefinedbytheIndustrial
Revolutionthattookholdinnineteenth-
centuryEurope.Asthemassesmovedfrom
farmlandtofactory,theirliveswerenolonger
shapedbytherhythmsofthenaturalworld,
yettheirdesireforthecountrysidepersisted.
Crowdedandcongestedcitiesrespondedto
thisneedbycreatingthepastoralexperiencein
theformofurbanparks.Thisperiodalsoledto
“theageofthelandscapepainter,”inwhich
urbaneartistssuchasJMWTurnerbeganto
combineimaginationwithobservationofthe
naturalworld.Acenturylater,theriseof
photographywouldchallengeanddemystify
landscape’sroleintheculturalimagination.
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Inthetwentiethcentury,NorthAmericancities
grewatsurprisingratesandsoonbeganto
sprawlanddominatetheirsurroundings.The
seminal1975exhibitionNewTopographics:
PhotographsofaMan-AlteredLandscape,
curatedbyWilliamJenkins,pointedtowardan
alternativeapproachtomakinglandscape
photography—anobjectivestylethat
nonethelessaddressedthenotionofthe“man-
madeenvironment”—andsuggestedthat
society’srelationshiptothenaturalworldhad
becomedysfunctional.
LiketheNewTopographicsphotographers,
RobertBurley’spracticeconcedeshuman
actiononthelandscapebyfocusingon
constructedurbanenvironments.Sharinghis
predecessors’survey-likesensibility,hebrings
anequallyliminalawarenesstohisslow,
tripod-dependentoperationofobservation,
allowingviewersaccesstonotonlyplace,but
alsotime.Burleyhasphotographedtheravine
systems,waterfronts,andparksofNorth
Americanmetropolisessincethemid-eighties.
Hisdispassionatescenesfeatureurban
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watershedsknittedwithexpressways,railway
lines,industrialcompounds,utilitytowers,and
pipelines.Atthesametime,Burley’s
phenomenologicalimagesoftenofferglimpses
intosomeoftheremainingnaturalhabitats
foundwithinandalongtherivervalleysystems
andlakefronts.
ItisthereforefittingthattheCityofToronto
commissionedBurleytocreateacollectionof
photographscelebratingToronto’snatural
spacesasawaytobothexamineandpromote
ourtwenty-first-centuryrelationshiptonature.
Throughthisvisualarchive,thecityacquires
evidenceoftheconsiderablenaturalareas
withinitsurbanparklandsystemaspartofa
strategyformaintainingandcommunicating
theirecologicalandcivicfunction.Though
commissionedfortheirdocumentaryvalue,the
imagesthatcomprisethisexhibition,and
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Burley’snewbook,alsorevealintangible
aspectsofthetemporal.Heplacestimeless
elementsalongsidethosethatareinflux,
interrogatingtemporalitybyjuxtaposingthe
permanenceofmunicipalinfrastructure,the
seasonalshiftingoflandscapes,andthe
ephemeralqualityofpeople’sday-to-day
movements.Theseimagesarenotsimply
records;theyalsobearwitnesstothecurrent
stateofToronto’sshoreline,rivers,creeks,and
valleyforest,impartingknowledgeaboutour
urbangeography,watersupply,biodiversity,
andpublicspace.Subsequently,theseimages
becomeinstrumentstosafeguardandprotect
thatwhichtheydescribe.Intheend,Burley’s
worksuggeststhattherelationshipbetween
cityandnatureisbeingredefinedagaininthe
twenty-firstcenturyasmoresympatheticand
enlightened,asurbandwellersincreasingly
investinnourishingandencouragingallforms
ofthenaturallandscapefoundinsidetheircity
limits.
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Thebook,AnEnduringWilderness:Toronto’s
NaturalParklands,ispublishedbyECWPress,
withtextsbyTorontowritersGeorgeElliott
Clarke,AnneMichaels,MichaelMitchell,
LeanneBetasamosakeSimpson,andAlissa
York.
CG/2017
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INSTALLIMAGES
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PUBLICENGAGEMENTPROGRAMMING
May9th,2017EnduringPhotographs:RobertBurleyinconversationwithTorontoPhotoLaureateGeoffreyJames
GEOFFREYJAMES(b.1942,Wales,UnitedKingdom)GeoffreyJameswasborninWalesin1942,readModernHistoryatWadhamCollege,Oxford(BAandMA),andemigratedtoCanadain1966.Aself-taughtphotographer,heistheauthororsubjectofmorethanadozenbooksandmonographsandisrepresentedinmajorcollectionsinternationally.HehashadsoloshowsatthePalazzoBraschi,Rome,theAmericasSociety,NewYorkandtheNationalGalleryofCanada.HehasparticipatedingroupshowsatDocumentaIX,Kassel,theMuseumofModernArt,NewYork,theFrankfurterKunstvereinandSanFranciscoMOMA.
GeoffreyJamesisaGuggenheimFellowandrecipientoftheGershonIskowitzPrizeandtheGovernor-General’sPrizeinMediaandVisualArts.HelivesinToronto,wherehehasbeennamedthecity’sfirstPhotoLaureate.
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May13th,2017Toronto’sNaturalParklandsinthenewMillenium:Theroleofnaturalparklandsinbuildingagreatcity
PANELISTS
MichaelMcClellandisaregisteredarchitectandoneofthefoundingprincipalsofERAArchitects,amultidisciplinaryfirmspecializinginheritageandculturalprojects.MichaelisalsocurrentlyoneoftheboardofdirectorsfortheFriendsofAllanGardensandheservesontheStewardshipCommitteeoftheCulturalLandscapeFoundation.Heistheeditorofanumberofbooks,includingConcreteToronto–aguidebooktoconcretearchitecturefromthefiftiestotheseventiesandTheWard–thelifeandlossofToronto’sfirstimmigrantneighbourhood.
JakeTobinGarrettisawriterandparkadvocateinToronto.HeworksasManagerofPolicyandPlanningforParkPeople,acharitythatbuildsstrongcommunitiesbyanimatingandimprovingparks.HeistheauthoroftheseveralreportsincludingMakingConnections,whichhighlightscreativestrategiesforparksinintensifyingcities,andSparkingChange,whichexploresthesocialimpactsofparksinunderservedneighbourhoods.TobinGarrettistheleadonplanning,policy,andengagementworkinurbanparks,includingpubliclifestudies,walkshops,andgovernancestrategiesforclientssuchastheCityofTorontoHeistheprojectleadontheGreenLine,aninitiativetotransformahydrocorridorintoalinearparkandtrail.
SincegraduatingfromtheUniversityofToronto'smasteroflandscapearchitectureprogramin2011withaspecializationinknowledgemediadesign,DenisePintohas
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pilotedanimpressivemulti-disciplinarycareer,incorporatingcivicengagementintoadiverserangeoffields.Thesedays,Pintoistakingtheworkshedoeslocally–whichincludesadvocatingforsafe,accessibleandstimulatingpedestrianenvironmentsandencouragingpeopletoexploretheircityonfoot–toagloballevel.AsglobaldirectorofJane’sWalk,anannualinternationalfestivalofcitizen-ledwalkingtours,shehasbeenconveningconversationswithincommunitiesincitiesaroundtheworld.
WayneReevesischiefcuratorforCityofTorontoMuseums&HeritageServices.Hemanagesthecity’sartifact,fineart,andarchaeologicalcollectionsandhelpsshapemajorexhibitionsatToronto’stencommunitymuseums.Heisalsoahistoricalgeographerwhohaswrittenandlecturedextensivelyaboutthelong-terminterplaybetweennatureand
cultureinToronto,includingtheestablishmentandevolutionofthecity’spublicgreenspaces.HecontributedessaystoSpecialPlaces:TheChangingEcosystemsoftheTorontoRegionandGreenTOpia:TowardsaSustainableTorontoandwasco-editorofHTO:Toronto’sWaterfromLakeIroquoistoLostRiverstoLow-flowToilets.
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May20th,2017EnduringWilderness/NatureintheCity:Exploringthecomplexrelationshipbetweennatureandthecity
PANELISTSJasonRamsay-BrownistheauthorofToronto'sRavinesandUrbanForests(Lorimer,2015).HeservesontheboardofdirectorsoftheTorontoFieldNaturalists(TFN),andrepresentedtheTFNontheCityofToronto'sRavineStrategyAdvisoryGroup,2015-2017.HeisavolunteerontheTodmordenMillsWildflowerPreserveStewardshipTeam,BeechwoodWetlandStewardshipTeam,andisamemberoftheOntariochapteroftheSocietyforEcologicalRestoration.
ToddIrvineisanarboristwithBruceTreeExpertswherehespecializesinthecareandpreservationofmaturetrees.Healsoco-
teachesamasters-levelecologycourseattheUniversityofToronto,FacultyofLandscapeArchitecture,andleadstrainingworkshopsforlandscapeprofessionals.Heisaco-founderandcontributingeditoroftheaward-winningurbanaffairsmagazineSpacing.HiswritingontreesandecologyhasappearedintheTorontoStar,GlobeandMailandCanadianGeographicandhehasbeenafrequentguestexpertonmediaprogrammessuchasCBCRadio’sMetroMorning.
JoyceChauistheExecutiveDirectorofEcoSpark,anenvironmentalcharityinOntario.EcoSparkconnectsstudentsandcommunitygroupstotheirlocalenvironmentthroughenvironmentaleducation,citizenscienceandcivicengagement.Joycehasbeenworkingintheenvironmentalnot-for-profitsectorforthepast12years.Sheisactivelyengagedinnumerousenvironmentalcommitteesincluding
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theOntarioGreenbeltAlliance,BiodiversityEducationandAwarenessNetwork,theSouthernOntarioStreamMonitoringandResearchTeam,andtheSmallChangeFund.PhilipCoteisShawnee,Lakota,PotawatomiandOjibwayfromMooseDeerPointFirstNation.Apublishedshortstorywriterandmuralist;CoteisagraduateofTheOntarioCollegeofArtandDesign.Hehasbeenattheforefrontofagroupofartistswhoareexploringnewwaystoimbuesculpture,paintingandotherinstallationartwithtraditionalspiritualperspectives.Thegreat,great,great-grandsonofTecumseh,Cotehasbeenexploring,researchingandmakingartabouttheimportanceoftheShawneeleader’slifeandspirit.
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BIOGRAPHIESSincethemid-1980s,photographerRobertBurleyhasusedthecameraasarecordingdevicetomakefleetingtracesofthematerialworldpermanent.Burley’sworkshavebeenexhibitedaroundtheglobe,andcanbefoundinmuseumcollectionsincludingtheNationalGalleryofCanada,Muséedel’Elysée,GeorgeEastmanMuseum,FoMu,MuséedesbeauxartsdeMontréalandMuséeNiepce.Overhiscareer,BurleyhasundertakennumerousurbanlandscapeprojectsincludingexplorationsofToronto’sDonValley,Chicago'sO'HareAirfieldand,aspartofthelargercommissionViewingOlmstead,NewYorkCity’sCentralPark.HispublicationsincludeViewingOlmsted:PhotographsbyRobertBurley,LeeFriedlanderandGeoffreyJames(1996)andTheDisappearanceofDarkness:PhotographyattheEndoftheAnalogEra(2012).Burleycurrently
livesinTorontoandteachesatTheSchoolofImageArts,RyersonUniversity.
CarlaGarnetistheJohnB.AirdGalleryDirector/CuratorandJOUEZcuratorfortheannualBIGOnBloorFestivalofArtsandCultureinToronto.GarnetisontheTrinitySquareVideoBoardofDirectorswheresheisactiveonboththeprogramandfundraisingcommittees.Shehasworkedasin-housecuratorattheArtGallery
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ofPeterborough(2010-2013),asguestcuratoratGalleryStratford(2009-2010),asanindependentcurator(1997-2010)andasthefounderanddirectorofGarnetPressGallery(1984-97).WhileattheArtGalleryofPeterborough,inadditiontohercuratorialwork,shedevelopedandmanagedthegallery’seducationprogram.GarnetholdsanAssociateDiplomafromtheOntarioCollegeofArtandDesignandaMastersDegreeinArtHistoryfromYorkUniversity.AboutJohnB.AirdGalleryTheJohnB.AirdGalleryopenedin1985.Itwasnamedinhonourofthe23rdLieutenantGovernorofOntariotorecognizehissupportofthevisualartsinCanada.GovernedbyaBoardofDirectors,theGallery’smandateistocreateawarenessandpromotetheenjoymentofworksofartbyprofessionalcontemporaryartists.Inordertofulfillitsmandate,theGallerystrivestoencourageexcellenceinvisualart;presenta
varietyofmedia,disciplines,andstyles;andtoprovideopportunitiesforstudyandeducationinconjunctionwithexhibitions.
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