‘Scalpay: Last of the Fishermen’, a documentary by Johan Hallberg-Campbell. Opening Reception: Friday March 26th 2010, 6pm-10pm. Exhibition Date: March 23rd-April 29th 2010

‘Scalpay: Last of the Fishermen’ is a documentation on a remote island in the Hebrides of Scotland. Having left Scotland, whenever I return, I notice change. This is something that intrigues me as Scottish person. The changes are happening very quickly, Scotland has finally opened its doors to the rest of the world. I had noticed how the small Highland town of Inverness (my hometown) had taken on a different dynamic. It has become a very diverse community with the influx of Eastern Europeans, mostly Polish. My interest in the town strengthened. I began shooting a long term photographic project, delving deeper into the two cultures that are merging in this place near Loch Ness. At that time I also begin to think about “Old Scotland”. Growing up I heard much about Scalpay; my father was born there, he left before he was five. The island was like a fairy tale to me, far away on a distant planet, stories of crofts, religion and fishing.

I decided to go to the Island to document the people living there. I was told that there had not been a birth in seven years, the Gaelic speaking Islands fishing tradition is fading away, and the people of old with it. The last corner shop closed in 2007, the pre-school also shut down that year. The primary school has two or three pupils and there is no High School. Over the years the population has dropped to 300. The young leave to seek work. To me this Island symbolizes a Scottish way of life that is disappearing, like many other places in the world! How it was a 100 years ago, ‘The Last of The Fishermen’.

Please join for the Opening Reception. Regards - Johan

‘En quête d’Amour.’ A series of images by Mateo Guez. Opening Reception Friday Feb 26th 2010. 6pm-9pm. Show dates Feb 21st – March 21st

“EN QUÊTE D’AMOUR”: A SERIES OF PHOTOGRAPHS BY MATEO GUEZ

Mateo Guez, Native of France, award-winning director, writer and producer, is a brilliant creative force, and without a doubt, a force to be reckoned with.  He was working with director Bernardo Bertolucci on “The Dreamers”.   One of his short films, “L’Ultima Notte”, has won critical acclaim  at festivals in Berlin, London, Los Angeles, Montreal, Clermont-Ferrand and Toronto.  Guez was one of the three talented directors of a new, cutting-edge interactive feature film “Late Fragment” produced by the NFB & the CFC (recently selected at the 2007 TIFF).

On top of all of that, he is working  in closed collaboration with Motorola, as a Filmmaker/Photographer, using a camera’s cellphone for his shoots since 2004.  His new feature film, “OFF WORLD”, shot in the Phillipines, is a beautifull, poetic and intimate piece but most of all a brilliant and spiritual tribute to the world and its chaos.

‘En quête d’Amour.’ is a journal of Mateo’s last two years. Through the lens of his camera phone, Mateo records his journey to the Philippines, meeting a community of people living in a dump site, (this community inspiring the production of ‘OFF-WORLD’, a feature film concentrating on their tough life) his love, his friends, his observations, his journey.

Please join us for the Opening Reception ‘En quête d’Amour.’  Pikto Gallery, Friday February 26th, 2010. 6PM-9PM. Mateo will unveil his new film ‘OFF-WORLD’ for the first time.

Matt Barnes: ‘PANTHERS’ Exhibition Jan 14th-Feb 19th 2010. Opening Reception Fri 15th 6pm-10pm

Matt Barns is nothing more than a voyeur. Sat in the corner, he surveys all before figuring out the best way to add his perverse twist to anything left open to lewd persuasion. Clad in chambray, he stands, taking one last drag of a cigarillo before its stomped to a smolder by his gator boot. As his subject is approached, you relize; when Matt looks at you, he only sees a skewed part of himself.

A melange of influences have helped Matt shape his style. Inspiration comes fro the time spent diggin' through crates of records, downing Mai-Tai's at a considerable pace or walling in the seediness only a roadside motel room can provide. A chameleon, as equally at home in the company of diesel drivers, with forearms big as beef, as he is philandering amongst the tuxedoed in a crowd, he has the unique ability to flow from commercial ad to rock and roll album cover. without missing a beat. Matt's life is about a bona-fide photoshoot and he is going at it lock, stock and barrel.

lately, when not knee-deep in sleeze, Matt has been quietly preparing to make moving pictures, assembling a film side of "The Spot" Productions. A recent recipients of the Bravo Fact grant, he hopes to turn success as a commercial photographer into that of a successful director. With his work on his debut film commencing, it looks like there'll be no time for this soon-to-be auteur to back off the hammer!