Collecting Moments: The Photographs of Dr. John E. Ackerman

Exhibition Title: Collecting Moments: The Photographs of Dr. John E. Ackerman
Dates: May 17-June 10, 2018
Opening Reception: May 17, 8:00pm - 10:00 pm
Venue: Black Cat Artspace, 2186 Dundas Street West, Toronto
Gallery hours: Thursdays-Sundays, 12:00pm-7:00pm
Curators: Charlotte Gagnier and Sarah Proulx

Download the Press Release (pdf will open)

Collecting Moments portrays stories of youth, love, and celebration through the photographs of Dr. John E. Ackerman (1921-2008). An accomplished amateur photographer, Ackerman’s images provide both a personal and historical account of life in Toronto in the mid-20th century. His photographs offer an intimate glimpse into Toronto’s first immigrant neighbourhood, St. John’s Ward, where the Ackerman family lived and owned a grocery store. Ackerman often turned his eye towards beauty found in the familiar, photographing everyday activity on the streets and joyful moments with his family, friends, and neighbours.

The images displayed in this exhibition are produced from archival negatives from the Ackerman collection, held at the Ontario Jewish Archives, Blankenstein Family Heritage Centre. The collection consists of approximately 1800 negatives and prints, as well as several film reels. The exhibition is curated by Charlotte Gagnier and Sarah Proulx, students at the University of Toronto iSchool’s Museum Studies graduate program.

For more information about Ackerman and his photography: Themed-Topics/Dr.-John-E.-Ackerman