S HE DEFIED CONVENTION Images from Pulp by Grace Gordon-Collins Creative Spaces Visit North Shore Artists Belinda Bruce in t h e i r Studios Grace Gordon-Collins If there is a d r i v i n g force b e h i n d the p h o t o g r a p h y o f G r a c e G o r d o n - C o l l i n s it is the self-described pursuit o f "the m y s t e r i o u s . " A n established architect a n d i n t e r i o r designer for over 2 5 years, G r a c e approaches p h o t o g r a phy w i t h a focus o n a r c h i t e c t u r a l d e t a i l - t h e intersection of light, space, f o r m a n d r e f l e c t i o n - b u t also a penchant for narrative structure. "I tend t o w a r d reductive w o r k , the a b s t r a c t i o n o f space a n d f o r m , but m y w o r k is also e v o l v i n g to include p e o p l e . " H e r s t u d i o is o n the g r o u n d floor o f a renovated w a r e house near the N o r t h V a n c o u v e r shipyards where G r a c e a n d her h u s b a n d Ernest run their a w a r d - w i n n i n g a r c h i tecture practice a n d i n t e r i o r design f i r m , A r c h i p e l a g o . U n t i l a few years ago, the business was Grace's m a i n focus, but the d r a m a t i c events o f 9/11 caused her to reassess her priorities a n d pursue her neglected d r e a m of p h o t o g r a p h y studies. She e n r o l l e d at the E m i l y C a r r Institute a n d earned her b a c h e l o r o f fine arts. W h i l e w o r k i n g on her M a s t e r s degree i n architecture at M I T i n the ' 7 0 s , she studied under r e n o w n e d A m e r i c a n p h o t o g r a p h e r M i n o r W h i t e w h o taught students about states o f "heightened awareness." A t E m i l y C a r r , she e x p l o r e d a m o r e c o n c e p t u a l a p p r o a c h to p h o t o g r a p h y . She s t u m b l e d u p o n a very personal project t h r o u g h her daughter, w h o was e n r o l l e d i n art s c h o o l at the same time. Together they shot a series o f reconstructed p u l p fiction covers featuring Grace's daughter as the m a i n character in each. "1 ended up telling m y o w n narrative The Dress by Grace Gordon-Collins story. E x c e r p t s o f a r o u g h c h i l d h o o d . " T h e result was P u l p , a series o f v i v i d p h o t o m o n t a g e s r e c a l l i n g b o o k s by p u l p - f i c t i o n masters M i c k e y Spillane a n d M i k e H a m m e r . E x h i b i t e d earlier this year at the D i a n e Farris G a l l e r y , Pulp i n c l u d e d t w o s u p p o r t i n g groups o f w o r k : The Dress, three l u m i n o u s a n d ghostly p h o t o g r a m s o f w e d d i n g dresses ( b e l o n g i n g to G r a c e , her m o t h e r a n d her g r a n d m o t h e r ) a n d The Port, abstracted glimpses o f s h i p p i n g containers. Grace's s t u d i o is also a gallery s p a c e - G a l l e r y Y o Y o intended to give exposure to e m e r g i n g artists. "It's my w a y o f g i v i n g back to the arts c o m m u n i t y , " says G r a c e . " W e ' v e h a d t w o s h o w s so far. These are c u r a t e d shows for very gifted people w h o need a venue. I w a n t to help those w h o have talent but often lack the business skills to get their w o r k in the p u b l i c r e a l m . " C reative Art R ehabilitative Expression WHO: Grace Gordon-Collins WHERE: Her studio, 604.983.2896 Aita Therapy Centre www.AitaCentre.com 209 Lonsdale Avenue 604 - 987 - 7212 We provide therapeutic and rehabilitative programs and services to older adults with physical and/or cognitive frailty and their caregivers. 4 November | December