It has been said that music is the heartbeat of the universe. There is no denying its magic, and its force in the world. I took these photos in Toronto in the 1980s. They show people making music in everyday situations, giving the city a soundtrack.
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Nathan Phillips Square is a large city square in downtown Toronto (12 acres) that is the home of Toronto City Hall. It is a place of numerous activities–skating rink, farmers’market, concerts, demonstrations. There is often lots going on here, but at other times it is eerily empty.
It is a place that I rarely went to for an event; I was usually just passing through. So my photos are usually just little glimpses of what was happening there. Looking back at my contact sheets from the 1980s it seems that I passed through Nathan Phillips Square a few times a year. It was a good place for photos–lots of open space, interesting architectural details, plenty of concrete, and human activity.
These photos were just random moments at the time, but mean a lot more to me now as I rediscover the past life of my 20s. It reminds me that life is short and we must Carpe diem— “sieze the day.” For me, having a camera in my hand at all times helped me remember, You only get to do this once. We have to take time and see it, as clearly as we can.
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Reflections create another layer of reality in a photo. It can be like gazing into an alternate world, or listening to the layered sound in a Brian Eno recording.
When I was a boy I would walk around the house looking down into a mirror. The reflections of the ceiling created a whole new space to walk in. Several years later when I first picked up a camera, I was drawn once again to layered images found in mirrors, windows, and water.
This photo was taken in Kensington Market, Toronto, in 1983. I often associate photos with songs and this one brings to mind Reflections by Diana Ross and the Supremes. The way life used to be.
When taking photos I look for good light, and try to get an interesting moment, if possible. But there is also a matter of composition–how to divide the space. There are no hard and fast rules, but I often attempt to divide the frame into three or more sections. I first saw this in the photographs of Tony Ray-Jones and Lee Friedlander. There was a lot going on in the frame–a kind of unified complexity.
This photo was taken in Montreal in 1983. My friend Stephane is on the right and we were off to celebrate Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day. I’m glad I got this Kodachrome moment.
© Avard Woolaver
This photo was taken on Fifth Avenue in New York City in 1983. Walking around New York City with a camera is something I’ve only done twice in my life. Both times were unique and memorable. There is so much happening on the streets, and so many interesting locations.
The mannequin is in the store window of B. Altman and Company, a luxury department store chain founded in 1865. By 1990, the business was closed. In 1985 this Fifth Avenue building became a New York City landmark. It is now occupied by City University of New York, New York Public Library, and Oxford University Press. The Altman Foundation carries on as one of the largest private philanthropies in New York.
From the series: New York City – Flickr album