Salt Spring Island’s most celebrated photography group marks a milestone 25th anniversary this year with a special exhibition featuring works from both current and “alumni” members.
Since 2000, the island’s Photosynthesis group has shown its members’ photos every year at ArtSpring, a bit of diligence that has made it the oldest continuously-running photographic exhibition in British Columbia — and this year’s special event showcases current group members alongside several photographers from years past, including many who have moved away from the island, according to Photosynthesis board chair Alane Lalonde.
“The response to this invitation is very positive with almost all of the invitees accepting,” said Lalonde. “Due to the number of participants, each photographer will be allowed one image of their choice to hang in the gallery.”
Scheduled as part of the anniversary exhibit are photographs from current members Birgit Freybe Bateman, Seth Berkowitz, Alan Bibby, Nirmal Dryden, Howard Fry, Diana Hayes, Christina Heinemann, Susan Huber, Avril Kirby, Alane Lalonde, Doug McMillin, Larry Melious, Amy Melious, Bernadette Mertens McAllister, Pierre Mineau, Brian Purcell, Anette Schrage, Julianna Slomka and Michael Wall; and past members June Boe, David Borrowman, John Denniston, Janet Dwyer, Gregg Eligh, Timothy Gibbon, Tamar Griggs, Greg Klassen, Michael Levy, Sam Lightman, Shari Macdonald, Judy McPhee, Eric Onasick, Osman Phillips, Gillean Proctor, Chris Stackhouse, Ron Watts and Jana Zachariou.
The show runs from Wednesday, Aug. 20 until Tuesday, Sept. 2, with the daily exhibition open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and an opening night gala Friday, Aug. 22 from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
For more information about the group and upcoming show, visit photosyn.ca. A “sneak peek” of many of the participating photographers’ work is also online at saltspringphotographers.ca/gallery-2025.
