Photography exhibition shines a light on a few relics of the past

A new photographic exhibition is aiming to “explore the world of things old, used, discarded or waiting to be restored.”

Currently on display until April 3 at the ViewPoint Gallery in Bedford, the show, called Patina, will showcase more than 20 stunning images that photographer Colin Chase captured earlier this year.

“A friend of mine has an amazing collection of old farm trucks and farm implements (so) I just asked if I could come and take some pictures,” says Chase about the artwork that makes up Patina. “There were some other garages and treasure troves that I was hoping to get to but it’s kind of hard with the snow. I kind of had a window of opportunity and made these images in January and they are all covered in snow now.”

A hobbyist of classic vehicles and a member of the British Automobile Touring Association of Nova Scotia, Chase insists his interest in photographing rusty old trucks came naturally.

“If you’re into old cars, some people look at them and think that’s a piece of junk and others see the potential,” says Chase. However, based on the images that comprise his first solo show at ViewPoint Gallery, the photographer saw something else as well.

“I love the way the sun bakes the paint and changes the colour and just the look of the rust,” notes Chase, adding that he originally had a larger goal in mind for the exhibition.

“I wanted to do a series of photos of people restoring vehicles, working on vehicles — just sort of about the people but with COVID, you can’t go into people’s garages and set up and photograph easily or safely.”

While the month-long exhibition aims to pay tribute and help “preserve items from our mechanical past,” Chase also hopes it attracts those who may enjoy seeing those images in an abstract way.

“With the show, there will also be other members showing,” adds Chase. “We’ve got sort of a B-gallery so there will probably be another half dozen or so images (and) there are prints in the print bins from different photographers that have had shows or that are members of the gallery.”

After a long three-decade career in education, Chase began to take his love for photography more seriously once he retired five years ago. However, Chase notes his true passion for photography extends back to his childhood in Port Williams, Nova Scotia.

“My mother was always snapping pictures with an old Kodak Hawkeye camera and my dad was shooting 16mm film,” recalls Chase about his early memories of discovering the photographic arts. “I went away on a school trip with my Instamatic and took a bunch of pictures and my teacher, who was a photographer (said), maybe you might want to get a better camera — and it kind of went from there.”

Two years ago, he joined ViewPoint — an art cooperative that exhibits and promotes fine art photography from specifically Nova Scotia artists. Founded in 2000, ViewPoint Gallery moved from downtown Halifax on Brenton Street to its storefront location at 1475 Bedford Highway in October of 2020.

The gallery showcases work of local artists as well as sells prints, greeting cards and framed artwork of Nova Scotia artists. In addition, ViewPoint Gallery offers a variety of photography courses and workshops.

As a volunteer and artist-based cooperative, ViewPoint Gallery’s success is dependent on the participation of its members and the community and always encourages artists to submit their work for peer review.

“I joined ViewPoint Gallery just to be around more photographers,” says Chase about the artist-run organization. “It’s one thing to take a bunch of pictures but if no one sees them then maybe that’s half of the job done but it’s nice to share your work and get feedback from other photographers and that’s one of the things that I really get out of ViewPoint.”

For more information on Patina or ViewPoint Gallery, visit the website.