Written by GAC Staff
Born and raised in Guelph, Tim Campbell-Smith reflects on how growing up here shaped their creative vision. From childhood memories at local parks to exploring the city’s hidden spots, their work aims to capture Guelph beyond the familiar, offering a fresh perspective on the places that hold personal meaning. Read on to learn more about their upcoming exhibition, Guelph, But, at 10C in December.
You were born and raised in Guelph—can you speak more about how growing up here influenced your artistic vision?
I’ve been all over the place, so when I think of Guelph I think of a myriad of different places: when I was a kid we called the park beside Stone Road Mall “big park”, and going to Riverside for Canada day was a special tradition, getting involved at Guelph Little Theatre when I lived in the west end taught me about commuting the length of the city. Then when I got older and got into digital marketing, I saw the many, MANY, top images of Guelph were all of the same places. I guess I want people to fall in love with all parts of the city, which is how I came to this concept.
You mention the tension between capturing memories, reality, and your perspective on the future of Guelph. What was your creative process in deciding how to photograph Guelph in a way that felt authentic to you?
For me this was about stories: mine and others I had heard. Every place I visited had a story, so whenever I got to a space I walked around, explored, reminisced, and would then take the shot. Truthfully, I also took at least 3 – 4 shots of every location in slightly different ways, because it wasn’t until I got to editing, and then deciding which pieces to put in the show, that I could figure out what the whole narrative was: and I didn’t settle until I was happy with the overarching story.
What do you hope viewers will take away from this show? What message or feeling do you want to leave them with?
I have a few hopes for folks when they see this show: first, I hope to spark curiosity about the city in where things are, what there is to see. Second, I hope it causes people to tell their own stories of the city so we can see how rich it is. Finally, I hope they have fun in the game that is the show in guessing where things are or discovering new places.
How did you decide which personal memories to include in this series, and how do those memories connect to the city and the work in the show?
The places I was most comfortable with, or had been highly recommended by others were my anchors: then I used Google maps to explore surrounding areas. Truthfully, I tried to capture as much as possible, so it didn’t feel like deciding what to shoot, it was more about how I was going to shoot it all.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while working on this project? Was there an image/moment/memory that was key in putting the show together?
Editing and filtering down was the worst. I had 30 or so shots printed, but the way we’re displaying the show only allows for about 16 photos, and I also knew I wanted an equal number of photos from each part of the city, with every season of the year represented, so it was a constant balancing act that meant every photo shot isn’t in the show.
How do you think art can play a role in conversations about the future of the city?
I think art reminds us straight to our face what’s important. Where is art, what kinds of people create it, what kind of art is displayed, subject matter and acceptability make it so clear where we are, and where we may want to go.
How has your background in marketing influenced your approach to creating art?
In marketing I tend to think about encouraging people to visit places and do things, so I wanted to do that broadly for the city without giving preferential treatment to some places and not others.
We got a sneak peak at the images, and of the 16 in the show, only two have people in them. Why is that?
It’s not just in the 16, in all 30 or so images those are the only two photos that have people! I wanted to focus on Guelph as a place, where spaces house memories past or to be made. That said, the concept for one of the images (when you see it you’ll know why) had to have people in it, and the other was a happy accident. I included these for impact because I think they say something beautiful about both the city and the people of Guelph, especially in terms of making memories.
What role does community play in your work? How do you see your photography as a reflection of Guelph’s diverse community?
Other than pushing the shutter button and editing the photos, members of the Guelph community were involved in every stage. I asked folks what they thought of the concept and got early enthusiasm. Next, I asked on Facebook and Reddit in Guelph groups what people’s favourite spots were of Guelph that weren’t downtown or the university, which birthed the project shot list. After editing some images, I showed a few to people who live in the areas to see what they thought from both a location perspective and an artistic perspective. Finally, I had a mentor, friend, and my partner, all look at the photos towards the end to make sure I had captured many facets of the city, without preferential treatment for one thing or another.
You are also a 2024 GEAMP participant, how has that experience helped/influenced the show?
The Guelph Emerging Artist Mentorship Project paired me with a professional artist as a mentor to help with growing an arts practice, and I applied to the program asking to be taught how to do a show. Christine De Vuono was an angel in consulting with me on photo sizing, how to hang, frames, pricing, filtering down to what would be in the show, the write up, you name it. If this show is even remotely successful, she deserves most of the credit.
Guelph, But will be up for viewing December 2nd to 27th (Mon-Friday, 9am-5pm). An opening reception is taking place December 6th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Prints will be available for sale. Visit 10C for more information.
