Ordinary People

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Dona Schwartz, “Austin,” 2020, pigment print on archival paper flush mounted aluminum composite panel (courtesy the artist and Contemporary Calgary)

Whether shooting portraits of singles, couples or families, Calgary-based photographer Dona Schwartz offers fascinating insights into what makes ordinary people extraordinary. Her collaborative and immersive exhibition, Ordinary People (Like Me), is on view at Contemporary Calgary until May 22. 

Two years ago, Schwartz began photographing people she encountered during her daily dog walks in Confederation Park in northwest Calgary. She then asked them to recruit one or two other people. What began as a social experiment inspired by Yoko Ono’s instruction to photograph ordinary people culminated in an exploration of what “ordinary” actually means and a compelling cast of characters who are not bland or unremarkable.

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Dona Schwartz, “Ordinary People (Like Me),” 2022, installation view at Contemporary Calgary (photo by Jesse Tamayo, courtesy Contemporary Calgary)

The term “ordinary people” is a challenging proposition since everyone has their own story, personality and relationship to the world. But ordinary folks rarely get public acclaim, so this label mostly goes unchallenged. Schwartz shatters the conundrum by warmly interrogating her subjects through documentary-style portraits set within domestic spaces of their own choosing. The show comprises 28 photographs mounted on aluminum panels, front and back, and displayed on 14 white wooden stands. It’s almost like peeking into homes as you walk through a neighbourhood.

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Dona Schwartz, “Matthew and Crystal,” 2020, pigment print on archival paper flush mounted aluminum composite panel (courtesy the artist and Contemporary Calgary)

The portraits are striking, and the intimacy Schwartz evokes is uncanny but not invasive. They shift easily between formal poses and ones that are more natural. The images are awkward at times, catching odd expressions or gestures, making them both human and engaging. Each photograph is accompanied by a QR code that links viewers to online stories written by the people who referred them. A map and social tree locate them, offering insight into how they know each other. These elements help animate the project.

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Dona Schwartz, “Brit and Jamie with Owen,” 2020, pigment print on archival paper flush mounted aluminum composite panel (courtesy the artist and Contemporary Calgary)

In Austin, for example, a teenage boy sits with his dog on an unmade bed with sports uniforms hung on the wall behind him. At first glance, it’s an ordinary scene. But on further exploration, a more nuanced story unfolds. After taking Austin’s photograph, Schwartz finds Crystal preparing soup in the kitchen, clearly the heart of their home. The scene, captured in Matthew and Crystal, shows Austin’s parents enjoying a glass of wine while chopping mushrooms. Before leaving, Schwartz is gifted with a container of soup. And as we trace their social circle, we find more linkages to a love for sharing food. Matthew was recommended by Brit, pictured in Brit and Jamie with Owen. She owns a personal chef business, and knows Matthew through his food security work at The Alex, a community health centre. Meanwhile, another of Brit’s friends, Andrea, who poses with Krissy and Avery, is the sister of a top chef turned firefighter. Andrea reveals that Brit is the daughter of retired professional wrestler Bruce Hart. Not such ordinary people after all.

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Dona Schwartz, “Aisha and Kieran with Amyah,” 2020, pigment print on archival paper flush mounted aluminum composite panel (courtesy the artist and Contemporary Calgary)

While the referral process spawned multiple distinct lineages, it also reveals how social connections can be limited by our own values, backgrounds and social positions. The networks exposed here – with a couple of exceptions – are mostly white suburbanites with shared interests in food, dogs and sports.

Schwartz developed a companion project accessible online and through tablets placed in the exhibition. One is an Instagram page, OrdinaryPeopleYYC, that invites member of the public to share their images of ordinary people. As well, two of her students at the University of Calgary – Yaiza López Garcia San Roman and Ryan Joon-Hyun Lee – initiated similar projects that expand the diversity, but reiterate Schwartz’s findings: our social networks often reflect our age, ethnicity, hobbies and careers. ■

Dona Schwartz: Ordinary People (Like Me) at Contemporary Calgary from Feb. 10 to May 22, 2022.

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