Last year, after the Vancouver Korean Art Photography held a group show at the Vancouver Public Library, a few members had second thoughts.
They felt that while they were getting good exposure, the club focused more on the social side rather than on the craft itself.
In an effort to narrow its lens more seriously on the art form, some disenchanted members broke away and founded Sensors, an online support network of retired Korean immigrants who wanted to hone their skill as well as share their expertise with others in their pursuit.
Their website (http://cafe.daum.net/traceonsensor) is packed with lovely images from monthly assignments, comments on theory, composition and new products, and suggestions from other members.
And last week, Sensors made their first push into the public realm, opening a group exhibit about falling in love.
Co-founder Susana Kim said 15 Sensor artists are displaying 36 “Moments of Love” pieces — all zeroing in on different subject matters.
Kim, a Coquitlam resident, manipulates her shutter speed to create blurred motions while another co-founder, Young Chol Han of Nanaimo, presents the bright lights at a Festival of Lumen. “It’s almost like we’re in love with what we see through the camera at that exact time,” Kim said.
Kim said Sensors decided to have its first exhibit in the Tri-Cities because of the large Korean population. As well, the venue where it’s being held — at Place des Arts in Maillardville — is in a central location along Brunette Avenue that’s accessible by public transit.
Kim said that’s important as many seniors don’t have vehicles and, for those whose first language is not English, leaving the home to learn about the community can be a challenge.
“They often don’t even know what’s down the street from them,” Kim said, “so we hope this exhibit will bring them out to explore what’s in their neighbourhood.”
Meanwhile, two other exhibits also opened last Friday at Place des Arts: In the Atrium Gallery is a juried show from the Fraser Valley chapter of the Federation of Canadian Artists and, in the Leonore Peyton Salon, is Scrapyard Chronicles by Vanessa Lam.
All three exhibits end Nov. 7. Visit placedesarts.ca.
