Cathy Dobson
Kirsty Kilner Holmes can’t believe her gallery’s good fortune in booking London photographer Dave Sandford’s first gallery show in Ontario.
Sandford’s work is so much in demand he has just returned from the southern hemisphere’s Kingdom of Tonga where he photographed humpback whales, and he’ll soon be off to Canada’s subarctic to document polar bears.
In between, he’s mounting Jaws, Paws and Claws at Gallery in the Grove, an exhibit featuring 18 of his impactful photographs.
Sandford worked for more than 20 years as a professional sports photographer covering the NHL, the NBA and assignments for Sports Illustrated. About three years ago, he transitioned to nature photography.
In early 2017, Sandford’s photos of dramatic wave action on the Great Lakes caught Kilner Holmes’ attention.
“That was when his wave photos were gaining traction on social media and I saw that his work was something we’d never seen before,” said the chairman of Gallery in the Grove.
“Within 24 hours, he got back to me and said he’d been approached by galleries in the U.S. but never from Ontario.
“I think people will be blown away by the quality of his work. Gallery in the Grove is so proud to be hosting this exhibition,” said Kilner Holmes.
She expects the centrepiece of the show will be an image of a polar bear taken with a fisheye lens and presented in a format more than three feet wide.
“It is unbelievable, with so much impact,” she said.
There will also be selections from “Liquid Mountains,” Sandford’s series on Great Lakes waves.
He focused on the shallow waters of Lake Erie for the series, which captures the winds and angry waves of November. However, Kilner Holmes said she understands the exhibition may also include photos of Lake Huron. Sandford has family in Bright’s Grove and has photographed waves and sunsets there as well.
Sandford is attending the opening of the show on Oct. 21 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. He will also speak at a ticketed Artist’s Talk on Oct. 28 from 2 – 4 p.m. at the Sarnia Yacht Club. Funds raised will be directed to the Gallery in the Grove’s educational programs.
Gallery in the Grove is located at 2618 Hamilton Park Rd. in Bright’s Grove. For more, and tickets, visit www.galleryinthegrove.com or call 519-869-4643.
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: Jaws, Paws and Claws photo exhibition by Dave Sandford
WHEN: Oct. 21 – Nov. 10. With Artist’s Talk Oct. 28 @ 2 p.m.
WHERE: Show is at Gallery in the Grove. Artist’s Talk at the Sarnia Yacht Club, 1220 Fort St., Point Edward
TICKETS: The exhibition is free. Artist’s Talk is $22 (adult) and $12 (student). Only 80 spots available.