Representations of rural communities can be polarizing, often over-simplified or “othered” as either idealized snapshots of pastoral landscapes and bygone charm, or sites of controversial political opinion and industry.

“Getting Home” looks past nostalgia and stereotypical expectations, as four artists contend with a much more nuanced sense of place. Each tells a unique story of way-finding, reclamation, belonging, and stewardship in the changing landscapes of small-town Alberta and Saskatchewan. They grapple with the effects of colonialism and climate change as much as they bask in the beauty of the surrounding environment. They tell stories of people shaped by land, and land changed by people. We are left to question: Where have we come from? And where do we go from here?

Featured Artists: Julya Hajnoczky, Grant Harder, Nahanni McKay, Kyler Zeleny

The Exposure Photography Festival is a month-long celebration of photography across Alberta, held annually in February. Through juried open-call exhibitions and a diverse array of partner programming, we showcase the best of contemporary practices within this medium, create opportunities for emerging artists, and invite the public to engage with a wide variety of visual storytelling – both home-grown and internationally renowned.