Ryan Pyle Blog: Brighton Gallery Exhibition

Hello.

This is just a remind that I'll be speaking next week at the AM Gallery in Brighton to launch the Intimate China show which begins on Tuesday March 1st and runs for the month of March. A small selection of my work from Chinese Turkestan will be on display.

My talk will take place on Tuesday March 1st at 8pm. If anyone is in the neighborhood, swing by.

The gallery address is:
1 Borough Street, Brighton BN1 3BG, United Kingdom
+44.1273.771228
www.amgallery.co.uk

AM Gallery LINK

The official flier is below.

_________________________________________________________________________________________
AM Gallery presents
Intimate China
A group exhibition of China-based photographers

We are pleased to invite you to a private view & Artist’s talk with Ryan Pyle in accordance with the ArtsFORUM

Tuesday 1 March 2011 7pm-9pm
AM Gallery, 1 Borough Street, Brighton
PLEASE RSVP amgalleryuk@gmail.com by 25 Feb.

The exhibition aims to enhance the interaction between the European public and Chinese art scene through the photographic medium - with more than 70 stunning images in two different shows, viewers will be able to become familiar with the fascinating contemporary Chinese art scene. The fine art photographers display a great combination of people and landscape, while in documentary there is no lack of details about everyday life in China.

Photographers
Show 1: Seppe Van Grieken, Jonathan Browning, Ryan Pyle, Jingyi Yang, Gemma Thorpe, Stefen Chow
Show 2: Boris Austin, Jasper James, David Hartung, Camille Levert, Peikwen Cheng, Simon Dean

Exhibition
Show 1: Open Tuesday 1 – Thursday 10 March 2011
Show 2: Open Friday 11 – Sunday 20 March 2011

Opening Hours
Weekdays 11am-4pm. Sat/Sun 11am-5pm. Monday closed. FREE ENTRY

How to get here
By Bus: 1, 1A, 2, 2A, 5, 5A, 5B, 6, 20, 25, 46, 49, 49A, 71, 81, 81B, N25 (Norfolk Square)
Use Google map or Multi map to find routes to and from the gallery.

About Ryan Pyle
Photography: www.ryanpyle.com
Archive: http://archive.ryanpyle.com
Film: www.mkride.com

More information can be found at www.amgallery.co.uk & theartsforum.blogspot.com/
Wine will be served free.
_________________________________________________________________________________________

--
Ryan Pyle
Photographer
ryan@ryanpyle.com
Website: www.ryanpyle.com
Archive: http://archive.ryanpyle.com
_______________________________________

Ryan Pyle Blog: Arta Gallery Show

Hello.

I just wanted to share some details about my Gallery Exhibition (A Group Show) at the Arta Gallery in Toronto, Canada for the Contact Photo Festival. It opened on May 15th and will run until May 27th. I hope if you are in the area you can swing by. Some new work from Chinese Turkestan is on display. Sadly I will not be there. Check out the link below. Cheers,

LINK: Arta Gallery

--
Ryan Pyle
Photographer
ryan@ryanpyle.com
Website: www.ryanpyle.com
Archive: http://archive.ryanpyle.com
_______________________________________

Ryan Pyle Blog: Reflection on my Exhibition

Hello.

A few weeks back I had another post on the Resolve Blog. Please read below:

I recently had an exhibition on my work from Chinese Turkistan, or Xinjiang, China, in Toronto, Canada a few weeks back. And for those readers who aren’t familiar with the process of putting on a gallery show, it can be a very trying experience for any photographer, emerging or established.

The first thing that comes to mind when someone says gallery exhibitions is money. Cash, and cash flow, dominate our lives and setting aside a significant portion of money to research, produce, print, mount and frame is not an easy task by any means. But I’ve found a way, and this is my experience.

In the early days of my time in China I realized that I had a strong connection to the province of Xinjiang, the mainly Muslim region in northwest China. I had traveled there often and felt an immediate passion to tell the story of the people who lived there. But while this passion existed for sometime it didn’t translate in to actually making images there for some years later. In fact it wasn’t until I visited the region on assignment in 2005 that I was able to jump-start my motivation again. That year I visited Xinjiang 4 times, and the following years was much the same. I felt determined not to let this moment slip by, but what moment am I referring to?

The Chinese portion of the Silk Road, once known as Chinese Turkistan, is changing before our very eyes. Old mud brick homes and labyrinth-like old towns are being torn down in the name of “progress”. It’s not an easy thing to stomach, watching a culture and a way of life change month in and month out. My conviction is strong. I am dedicated to the region for the long term.

But once the images are made, what then? Well they need to be developed and then edited, which is something I can manage easily enough. Scans should be made so that you can pitch around your story ideas and perhaps introduce your work to new editors and gallery owners. And if a gallery owner bites and is interested in a show, you need to be ready to actually produce a show; but what does that actually mean?

In my case it means editing my work to a specific set of guidelines usually created by the gallery curator and myself. Then my Kodak TriX 400 negatives are picked up in Toronto and sent over to my printer who hand prints the show in a wet dark room, yes; just like back in the old days. The results, from my printer Bob Carnie, are magical. What Bob can do with a 35mm negative is remarkable and inspiring. Once the print is dried and flattened then it’s mounted, signed and framed. Seems like a simple process but choosing sizes, mounts, frames; as well as watching your costs, and collaborating with the gallery on a guest list is enough to make you want to scream out: “I just want to take pictures, and not deal with all of this other crap!”

As the emotional upheaval reaches it’s darkest hour, then comes the opening. You put on your suit, try to remember to shave, and engage with a captive audience by expressing the passion you carry for your work and your dedication to documentary photography. Because my work is from a remote land and often a misunderstood place, I try always try to give a 20-30 minute lecture prior to each show for those who are interested in coming a bit early for some background to the region and some details of my own past.

I was very touched during this most recent show when a couple, both Uygur refugee’s living in Toronto, attended and thanked me for caring and educating people about their homeland. It was an incredibly touching moment given that the couple had not been in touch with both their parents and two teenage children who are still in Urumqi, the city which experienced ethnic riots in early July.

My photography may not be for everyone, and it may not be very suitable for people to purchase and hang in their homes or offices, but it has a place in this world, it has to. The region of Xinjiang, with its rich Silk Road history and unique culture, is being drowned out by Chinese development and “progress at any cost”. The future for the region is bleak; my only hope is that I can make enough trips out there and continue this journey I’ve set myself on. I hope you enjoy viewing the images.

--
Ryan Pyle
Photographer
ryan@ryanpyle.com
Website: www.ryanpyle.com
Archive: http://archive.ryanpyle.com
_______________________________________

Ryan Pyle Blog: Final Reminder, Gallery Exhibition "Chinese Turkistan"

Hello,

Bare with me, just a final reminder that my Chinese Turkistan show will run tomorrow. The show will be held at the newly renovated Dylan Ellis Gallery (DEG)

Dylan Ellis Gallery
42 Industrial Street,
Toronto, ON M4G 1Y9
Hours: M-f 9am to 5pm;
Sat. noon - 5pm, Sun. by Appointment
416.406.3131

The opening time on Thursday night is 630pm, that's when I'll hold a Q&A and that will be followed by a reception from 7pm to 9pm. I'll also be at the gallery after the show on Friday August 7th and Saturday August 8th in case anyone would like to stop by and discuss the project. I'll also make myself available prior to the show should anyone be interested in learning more about the region of Chinese Turkistan and my inspiration behind the project. With the recent news of unrest in Urumqi I feel that it is really time to begin looking more closely at Xinjiang, and begin a serious dialog about the repercussions of such unrest. It's often considered a forgotten part of the world, but the people there are beginning to rise up and are very capable of challenging government authority.

In my eyes the project is timely and beginning to come together. I hope you'll have a chance to attend the show. The work will stay on display at the DEG for 2 months after August 6th. I hope there is a chance to meet up with each and every one of you at some stage. Follow the gallery website link above to view my bio and project summary as well as some of the images that will be displayed at the show.

I hope if you are in Toronto you'll have a chance to stop by.

--
Ryan Pyle
Photographer
ryan@ryanpyle.com
Website: www.ryanpyle.com
Archive: http://archive.ryanpyle.com
_______________________________________

Ryan Pyle Blog: Gallery Exhibition "Chinese Turkistan"

Hello,

I just wanted to let you know that preparations for my solo gallery show, which will open on Thursday August 6th, are nearly finished.

The show will be held at the newly renovated Dylan Ellis Gallery (DEG): (http://www.elevatordigital.ca/deg/)

Dylan Ellis Gallery
42 Industrial Street,
Toronto, ON M4G 1Y9
Hours: M-f 9am to 5pm;
Sat. noon - 5pm, Sun. by Appointment
416.406.3131

The opening time on Thursday night is 630pm, that's when I'll hold a Q&A and that will be followed by a reception from 7pm to 9pm. I'll also be at the gallery after the show on Friday August 7th and Saturday August 8th in case anyone would like to stop by and discuss the project. I'll also make myself available prior to the show should anyone be interested in learning more about the region of Chinese Turkistan and my inspiration behind the project. With the recent news of unrest in Urumqi I feel that it is really time to begin looking more closely at Xinjiang, and begin a serious dialog about the repercussions of such unrest. It's often considered a forgotten part of the world, but the people there are beginning to rise up and are very capable of challenging government authority.

In my eyes the project is timely and beginning to come together. I hope you'll have a chance to attend the show. The work will stay on display at the DEG for 2 months after August 6th. I hope there is a chance to meet up with each and every one of you at some stage. Follow the gallery website link above to view my bio and project summary as well as some of the images that will be displayed at the show.

I hope if you are in Toronto you'll have a chance to stop by.

--
Ryan Pyle
Photographer
ryan@ryanpyle.com
Website: www.ryanpyle.com
Archive: http://archive.ryanpyle.com
_______________________________________

Ryan Pyle Blog: Lecture Schedule in Toronto

Hello,

I just wanted to write and let folks now i'll be in Toronto from Monday March 2nd to Friday March 6th. I'm also very pleased to announce that I'll be lecturing during that week, below is a schedule. There should be a few extra seats available and the professors of each class have mentioned that a few guests can come and visit if they would like.

As a note: the final engagement on Friday is a 1 hour lecture and a 1 hour photo exhibition on color photo journalism work that deal with some of the tough changes that China is going through.

1) Monday March 2 2009
10AM to 1PM
Ryerson University Journalism School
Topic: "Reporting from China"
Room #: 102 (an extra about 10 seats)
The International Living Learning Centre
240 Jarvis St.
Toronto, ON


2) Wednesday March 4 2009
NOON to 2PM
University of Toronto - University College
"Modern China: Change in China"
Room #: UC179 (an extra 20 seats)


3) Friday March 6 2009
4PM to 6PM
University of Toronto
Political Change in China Conference
Topic: Lens on China
Munk Centre
South House (No Empty Seats - Completely Full)
Vivian and David Campbell Conference Facility
1 Devonshire Place
Toronto, ON

I'll be back in Toronto in August '09 for a gallery exhibition, more details on that coming soon.

--
Cheers,

Ryan Pyle
Photographer
ryan@ryanpyle.com
Website: www.ryanpyle.com
Archive: http://archive.ryanpyle.com
_______________________________________