Mindful Cellphone Photography Workshop

Saturday, July 25th, 3–5pm

In conjunction with the current exhibition Street Sign, artist Quin Martins leads a workshop in the practice of mindful cellphone photography. We love cellphone cameras for their ease in documenting and sharing events, but it can be a distraction. This workshop explores whether we can also use the device as a mindfulness tool for connecting with ourselves and our environment. We will meet at the gallery to share tips before heading out on a walk­-based practice of mindful photography. Please bring a cellphone or point-­and-­shoot camera. No experience necessary.

Quin Martins, born in New Westminster BC, grew up being inspired by painters working within Vancouver’s “low­brow” art scene of the 80s and 90s; artists with colourful names like 12 Midnight, I Braineater and ManWoman. Although contemporary painting continues to excite him, his current practice includes such diverse media as photography, sculpture and sound. Martins has always believed in the artist’s role to disrupt and subvert accepted social norms. He sees his work as functioning as a sort of game between himself and the viewer – a game that is preferably playful rather than mean spirited in nature. Sometimes, in an attempt to suppress the author­function inherent in artmaking, he will exhibit using the name of the fictitious organization: The Vancouver Society for the Prevention of Loss. Martins is currently enrolled at Emily Carr University where he is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in visual arts.