CONTACT Photography Festival 2012 is here! There are amazing shows everywhere but Pikto Gallery is particularly pleased to be hosting Aaron Vincent Elkaim's "A Co-Existence: Lost in the Wake of Zionism."

This body of work is from Elkaim's time spent in Morocco exploring the peaceful relationship between Judaism and Islam. Elkaim was drawn to this subject through his own family's history; his father was born in the Jewish Quarter of Marrakesh and immigrated to Canada in the 1960s.

Johan and Aaron have just finished the show and the images look beautiful in the space. Here is a sampling of some of my favorite images to tide you over until you have a look for yourself.

The opening will be held this Thurday, May 3, 6-10pm with an artist talk at 8pm. The show will be up until May 31.

Heather Morton is curating "Youth" at the Pikto Gallery in June. A collection of some of her favourite photographers and their expression of the theme.

We are very proud to announce that Pikto's new revamped website was chosen out of thousands of entries to be a Webby Official Honoree. The Webby Awards is the leading award for excellence in website design and functionality. Pikto is listed under the Professional Services category and shares the Honoree award with other impressive sites from Vogue and Allure Magazine to the the Metropolitan Museum of Art. See the full list here.

A Co-existence: Lost in the Wake of Zionism
Aaron Vincent Elkaim
MAY 1 - 31
OPENING: THURSDAY, MAY 3, 6-10pm

The Jewish people arrived in the land now known as Morocco over 2000 years ago. Protected since the 7th century by the Islamic principle of tolerance they flourished, holding high positions in trade and government. The Star of David was a symbol all Moroccans shared in common, appearing on the currency and even the national flag. During the Holocaust when asked for a list of Jews, King Mohammed V declared, “We have no Jews in Morocco, only Moroccan citizens.”

In 1940 Morocco had 300,000 Jewish people, the largest population in the Arab World. Following World War II, Israel’s expansion marked the beginning of an exodus. Today, fewer than 5000 Jews remain.
This photographic project is a journey into the remnants of a culture. Documenting an epoch of Judaism existing in peace with Islam, Aaron Vincent Elkaim seeks to honour an important historical truth. Reviving memories of a past forgotten in the wake of Zionism, he tells a story at odds with current perceptions of both Jews and Arabs. Elkaim was drawn to this subject through his own family's history. His father was born in the Jewish Quarter of Marrakech and immigrated to Canada with his family in the 1960s.

Click here to view Aaron's portfolio.

Check out their blog post here.

Enjoy Free Expedited Post shipping on any Photobook, Card or Calendar order of $50 or more using our Pikto Book:it application until April 15, 2012. Valid in the US and Canada.

Opening Reception on March 16th at 7:00 p.m.

13
Living with HIV – The first 13 minutes of each day.
by-Johnny C Y Lam

People who are living without an illness, they might normally start their day with a cup of tea or coffee. However, for those who rely on drugs to help sustain their lives, their mornings begin with a reminder that comes in the form of pills.

I spent a week living with a family in a rural village called Rubimba, near Kibungo in Eastern Rwanda at the end of November in 2011. It has been 2 years since I first met and photographed Princess and her family.

Living without running water and battling against HIV, Princess (14), her younger sister (6) and her mother (37) all rely on antiviral drugs to stay strong in their battle.

Unlike most photo documentary work, which usually consist of a body of work collected over an extended period of time, the 13 black and white images in the exhibition were made during a 13 minute time frame, shortly after they woke up to face yet another day. Only 17 exposures were made during that time frame.

I am interested in helping to eradicate the stigma that surrounds people living with HIV and continue to explore the deeper effect poverty has on the people suffering from the virus. These medications are strong and patients required a nutritional diet to be able to cope with the side effects. Over 60% of the population living in Rwanda earns less than 1$ a day. It is extremely challenging to have enough to eat, let alone having a nutritious meal.

Dr. Rupert Kaul, a highly esteemed specialist on the issue of HIV, will be speaking at the opening reception. Dr Kaul has worked in Kenya for many years and is a leading researcher in the division of genomic medicine at the Toronto General Research Institute.

A screening of the short film Lyiza, made by a young female Rwandan film maker (and nominated in the Festival del cinema Africano, d' Asia e America latina in
Milano 2012), will take place on March 22nd at 7:30 p.m. at the gallery.

The goal of this exhibition is to raise awareness on the issue of HIV and AIDS, as well to raise funds to help promote youth empowerment in Rwanda through
the art of photography. Images from the students of Gafotozi, a not for profit organization founded by me in 2009, will also be displayed in the exhibition.

100% of the proceeds will be donated to Gafotozi as an education fund.

The CONTACT Photography Festival in May is around the corner. With these Pikto specials, you can put together an entire exhibit for less than you ever imagined. Below are some of the packages available:

12 - 8x10" Framed Prints $395

12 - 11x14" Framed Prints $695

12 - 16x20" Framed Prints $995

12 - 16x20" Plexi Face Mounts $795

Framed prints are wood frames in White or Black with cut matt and glass.

Available exclusively online with Pikto ROES. Offer expires March 31, 2012.

To order, follow the instructions below:

1. Download Pikto ROES

2. Select "Framed Prints" for white or black framed prints  or "Photo Prints" for Plexi Face Mounts.

3. Select the size and add the images to the order. Once you reach 12 images, the special discount will automatically apply. Note that if you want to do more than 12, you will also get the discount for the additional prints.

4. Turnaround is 10-14 days.

Plan early and save! Don't forget that we can also help you create an awesome looking CONTACT show with Vynil signs,  promo Postcards and you can also create a gallery catalogue using our Photobook software- Pikto Book:it

While we love Pikto Top Pick winner Anastasia Taylor-Lind's work, here at Pikto we're getting excited about having Vuk Dragojevic's work on our walls!

Vuk Dragojevic is a Toronto based artist who works in a range of media including animation, video and photography. He has produced work that has been shown in group exhibits and festivals - both locally and abroad - as well as featured in print and online publications. This is his first solo show.

Have a look at some of his work here:

"I am interested in exploring the tension between geographical distance and emotional closeness. In the 12 years since my immigration to Toronto, at the age of 14, I have gone back to Belgrade on a regular basis, keeping strong ties with family and friends while forming new relationships here. This project stems from the sense of simultaneously belonging and standing out, of looking at a place as both an insider and an outsider.

Belgrade House shows people in private spaces, environments that I associate with family and childhood. It focuses on artifacts and relics that are closely related to memory and growing up. The series is an extension of my compulsion to collect and preserve the people, experiences, and places that are significant and meaningful to me."

"Belgrade House" will run from March 1 - March 31 with the opening reception held March 1 6:00-10:00

www.partialpictures.com