{"id":3966,"date":"2016-07-12T22:57:32","date_gmt":"2016-07-12T22:57:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.apogeephoto.com\/?p=3966"},"modified":"2016-07-12T22:58:15","modified_gmt":"2016-07-12T22:58:15","slug":"from-dream-to-reality-the-photographic-diary-of-a-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.apogeephoto.com\/from-dream-to-reality-the-photographic-diary-of-a-community\/","title":{"rendered":"From Dream to Reality: The Photographic Diary of a Community"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nCopyright \u00a9 G. R. Gooderham<\/p>\n

Catherine (Mamo) Morrison, now 101: She is seen here with her Great, Great Grandson Ryder, 7 months. Catherine has been coming to Temagami since 1950 as cottagers and is known by everyone.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the summer of 2005, I was inspired with an idea that played out to my love for photography. It came to me while discussing with a friend how so many rural communities had dwindled, and disappeared, without so much as a photograph of their existence. Who records the passing of time as it slips by? Sure there are local papers, personal diaries and family photographs; some have been passed down through the generations, but many are lost forever. Public libraries have some of these records, but they are often hidden away in dusty old boxes.<\/p>\n

I live in such a place. Temagami, Ontario is an old mining and logging village, and like similar communities that lose their prime industry, it is slowly eroding away. I felt that a visual record of the people of Temagami was missing–photographs of elders and seniors. These are the people who live and remember Temagami in its hay day, the very roots of the village and lake. These are the folks who remember how their Grandfathers and Grandmothers literally lived off the land and how it was so different \u201cback then\u201d.<\/p>\n

In the winter of 2006, I began putting this project together, but essentially it would involve making photographic portraits of the elders and seniors of the community. After several months of research and planning, I had the scope of work, and as ambitious as it was, I was excited. Although Temagami is a small village, the municipality is huge and encompasses the Teme-Augama Anishnabai First Nations on Bear Island; the permanent and seasonal Lake Temagami Islands residents as well as the village and mainland rural areas.<\/p>\n

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\nCopyright \u00a9 G. R. Gooderham<\/p>\n

Len Guppy, 82: He is a local historian and the Guppy family is one of the oldest family names in Temagami.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\nCopyright \u00a9 G. R. Gooderham<\/p>\n

Herb Costante, 83:\u00a0He and his 2 brothers are long time residents of Temagami and last year reunited here for the celebration for the Temagami public school\u2019s 100 year celebration.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Temagami Elders Portrait Project was on paper and ready to go, but I soon realized that the cost of printing and framing was going to run into hundreds of dollars! I needed assistance! I approached the Temagami Community Foundation and applied for some working funds. I wrote letters to all the community leaders, clubs, groups and associations explaining my goal. The idea was met with great enthusiasm by all and I did receive a start up grant from the Temagami Community Foundation.<\/p>\n

The goal of the project was to photograph as many community elders and seniors as possible to produce a body of work that records the history and humanity of our communities as a living history.<\/p>\n

Locke Goddard, 81: He is a local videographer and has recorded a lot of historical events and places. He always has a great story to tell.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Copyright \u00a9 G. R. Gooderham<\/p>\n

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\nCopyright \u00a9 G. R. Gooderham<\/p>\n

Jack Stevens, 83: Jack and his wife return every year to their cottage. The Stevens family name is one of the oldest in Temagami.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In brief, here is the scope of the project:<\/p>\n