Galerie d’Art Émergence: A First-time Photo Vernissage

By Ava Ugolini

I am five days shy of my twenty-second birthday, a huge mural of Leonard Cohen looking over me. I’m walking slightly ahead of my friends—to guide the group and to subtly perform a breathing exercise before the night’s activities ensue. This is the first time I have ever considered my photography art; art worthy of a frame and mounted surface besides my father’s fridge. My name is Ava Ugolini, my five B&W film photos, under the title “Forgive Quickly,” are being featured. This is the Galerie D’Art Émergence.

Double exposure no. 1 & 2, Lucky 200, 35mm, Galerie d’Art Émergence, Montréal QC (Brandford Amfo’s great photos visible in the background)

Working with the Galerie d’Art Émergence was not only a beautiful opportunity, but instilled hope in me for the future of photography. Having attended other photo vernissages earlier that week, I found the launch at the Galerie to be much warmer, more welcoming, and actually refreshing (that is to say, the photos and overall experience were novel, but there was also great food and beverage refreshments courtesy of the Galerie; a part of gallery openings that has become too rare!). 

Work-in-progress versions of Reflection and Listen in the McGill darkroom.

The Galerie was also extremely understanding when I, like many great young minds, mismanaged my time and struggled with my prints in the darkroom, thus needing to extend the window for photo drop-off. They gave me an extra three days, and saved my prints from the horrors of underexposure.

It must not be understated, also, how accepting the Galerie was of multi-media, interdisciplinary work. “Forgive Quickly,” the photo version, is part of a larger obsession with a paint swatch name that I discovered while helping my mother move. In between the obviously named green shades, like “Misty Moor” and “More Melon,” was a shade titled “Forgive Quickly.” Wow, pause on that for a second: God are you speaking to me? Shortly thereafter, I penned a work-in-progress poem, part of which I had featured along with my photos. The single stanza is meant to provide a transcendental context for my photos, and the Galerie was very supportive of its inclusion.

I highly encourage any new, or experienced, artist in Montréal/Québec to exhibit with the Galerie d’Art Emergence. Their staff are very professional, but real, kind people! The exposure my work will have, and has had, is unprecedented for me, and hugely appreciated. 

Go and see these, and many other (great), photos in the flesh until October 11th at the Galerie d’Art Émergence, 2130 Rue Crescent, Montréal QC!

Ava Ugolini is from Southern Ontario now pursuing an MA specializing in Canadian literature at McGill University. She has published or forthcoming work in The Temz Review, Contemporary Verse 2, and Queens Quarterly. She takes photos, too.