Selected images from Lisbon Exhibition North South, East West by Curator Hilda Yasseri are now on display at Galeria Almada Negreiros in The Portuguese Consulate in Toronto through April 1, 2019.
With sincere gratitude to the Cultural Center of Cascais and the Canadian Embassy in Portugal. PHOTO: This week’s closing reception of North South, East West in Lisbon
The image St. James Hotel, Montreal was chosen for the Foundation’s permanent collection. Picture l to r : Isabel Alvarenga (Museum Director), Salvato Teles de Menezes (President of Foundation), TedWitek, Lisa Rice Madden (Ambassador of Canada to Portugal) and Joël Monfils (Conseiller to Ambassador).
Photo by Vitor Fortuna
North South, East West
Ted Witek (1957- ) was born and raised in Connecticut. He left the United States for Germany in 2001, moving to Portugal in 2004. He immediately fell in love with the country and its people.
Having the artistic good fortune to travel many times to the North and South of Portugal as well as to Madeira and the Azores, Ted found the country among the most visually stimulating places that he has visited. Whether watching youngsters jumping from all heights in the hot sun into the Douro River, discovering an abandoned mannequin factory in Chiado, awaiting fishermen returning to shore in Sesimbra long before sunrise, or observing the biker celebrants of the Concentração de Motos in Faro, Ted was continuously inspired to capture a visual story.
Learning he would move to Canada in 2008, Ted immediately purchased a home in Azoia at Cabo Espichel where he now keeps a studio.
In 2012, Ted photographed all of beautiful Canada’s provinces for a new series entitled “Canadiana” with first edition prints auctioned for the Herbie Fund Charity at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto (SickKids). This series brought him between the world’s longest coastlines, from the east’s land’s end at Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia and as far west as Bennett Lake —- only reachable by floatplane over the icefalls and glaciers of Yukon.
Hilda Yasseri, Curator
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Images from the opening night at Centro Cultural de Cascais, Portugal
Although I have exhibited my work in many beautiful galleries, I most often enjoy having my photographs available to view in an atypical space with some sense of life remaining after the vernissage wine glasses are put away.
KASPACE is an experience. You can walk in and out, or gaze for hours. It is an atmosphere of appreciation of art, fashion, design and music. Ted Witek Photography, I am proud to say, is a part of this space.
My photography is always on display at KASPACE with a revolving selection of images by curator Hilda Yasseri. Original photographs are available for immediate sale or through special order of original prints from the books and catalogs on display.
KASPACE – 185 Carla Avenue, Toronto
This coming November the Cultural Center of Cascais will host the Ted Witek exhibition, North South, East West. Curated by Hilda Yasseri, the images represent a personal sense of place across the Provinces of Canada and up and down the country of Portugal. Sponsored in part by the Canadian Embassy in Portugal, all images are printed from original negatives on silver gelatine fibre by master printer António José Costa in Lisbon.
Stay tuned for more information as the November opening night approaches.
At the encouragement of Curator Hilda Yasseri, Ted begins a rebirth of his flower photography initiated with Color printer Carol Fondé in 2000 — with the ever-present inspiration of Georgia O’Keeffe, photographing them so you “ can’t ignore their beauty” and, besides, “they’re cheaper than models and they don’t move.”
Ted seldom passes through a city without getting a glimpse of a current photography exhibition. ” I spend a significant portion of my down time viewing of photography books as relaxing inspiration, but I enjoy most being very close to a print, especially when prepared in classic silver gelatine style” Before all of my travels, I scan the notices of shows that I believe will be of aesthetic interest and often pass through on my way from or to the airport. I do not need much time to be inspired.”
In Full Light
Herb Ritts
Cultural Center of Cascais
Having seen a small collection of Herb Ritts’ vintage prints on display earlier this year at London’s Hamilton Gallery, I was pleased to learn of the 106 print show “In Full Light” at The Cultural Center of Cascais (through January 21st) in my former neighborhood just outside Lisbon. Ritts, born in LA and with us for only 50 years before his death in 2002, was behind numerous iconic fashion photographs and advertisements of our time as well as direction of several commercials and music videos such as Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” (with extraordinary contributions from mother nature that few realize).
It is not difficult to appreciate each and every one of these photographs; however, the high proportion of images captured outside the studio are most illustrative of his aesthetic genius. Curator Alessandra Mauro notes his California upbringing was behind “his natural inclination for light, materials, and color,” with several images reflecting ‘the tactile elements of materials exalting the human skin in relation to water, sand, fabric, and mud.’ In simple words, he spent a lot of time with his camera on the beach.
In addition to beauty and fashion, there is a large display of his portraits, including the iconic Madonna who was on hand to open the exhibition in her new home in Portugal.
Always inspired by Helmut Newton’s 1987 images of Barbara Edwards at The Hollywood Sign, my L.A. Driver Extraordinaire Manny arranged special access for a few fun mornings photographing with beautiful Teela Cull, my favorite antique accordion, and Christine, the chic laced hat from Maison Michel.
The Irving Penn centennial was the highlight, finding the images more educational than inspirational ….. stayed in Saint Germain —-not having to go far for all that is Paris….
visited the studio and grave of Virginia Oldoini, Countess of Castiglione —— a prominent figure in early photography who might have adored the ‘selfie’ as we know it…. my propensity to dine in rail stations reached its peak at Gare de Lyon’s Le Train Bleu…. the through the door glances at the Dior show before and after dinner at lou lou was stunning….. my driver once referred to me as bobo, explaining the Parisian term of reference for bourgeois-bohème….
Always fun to explore new areas and venues of a city, but when in Miami always find myself back at the Delano South Beach….yes, very white and equally very soothing ….. a short walk to Byblos fine dining in the mold of Toronto’s maiden twin—just more palm trees….. recall recent treat at the Delano was an Art Basel lobby exhibition of Terry O’Neill’s iconic ones…. met Terry in Toronto a few years back at Izzy’s opening—- charming gentlemen…. O’Neills work at Delano include my all-time favourite of Audrey Hepburn (and, yes also Raquel Welch) …. unlike so many photographers with all access to celebrities and not a creative bone in their body, O’Neill gives the true sense of person and place….. all at The Delano!
