The Gallery
In response to demand from local artists for exhibition space and to promote and celebrate our talented local artists, the London Arts Council and the City of London Culture Services have collaborated with RBC Place London to pilot The Gallery program at RBC Place London as part of our London Arts Live (LAL) program offerings.
The purpose of The Gallery is to promote the work of artists and creators residing in London and surrounding First Nations to display original artworks for exhibition, with sales opportunities, on highly prominent and specially designated wall space within this municipally owned building.
A self-described foodie, coffee snob, and jazz enthusiast, Paul Lambert is a portrait and street photographer living in London, Ontario. Professionally, he specializes in personal and executive portraits, professional headshots, and business branding photography. His artistic passion is street photography.
Lambert has a long history of creating visual art but didn’t pursue photography in a serious way until 2016. His work has been exhibited in several galleries and venues in Ontario, including the Westland Gallery and Museum London gift shop, both in London, and the CONTACT Photography Festival in Toronto. Currently, Lambert is working on a personal project interviewing and photographing local visual artists. The collection will be exhibited in the autumn of 2025 with a complementary book to be released sometime later.
An Interview with Paul Lambert
Emery Variety, 2023
The Silence Between the Notes by Paul Lambert
(on exhibtion September 2024 – December 2024)
Q: Tell us the story behind The Silence Between the Notes exhibition. How did it start? What was it inspired by?
A: The photos in this exhibition are just several of a larger body of work I’ve been adding to over several years. I love street photography for several reasons; the unpredictability, the historical record—street photography has played a large role in documenting social evolution over the past several decades; the excitement of finding a story that unfolds spontaneously; the challenge of composing quickly and catching a fleeting moment before it’s gone. It’s an activity that takes a lot of time and often returns nothing for the efforts. But when it does, it’s extremely gratifying.
Although I’ve exhibited other work in galleries and other venues, I’ve never had the opportunity to exhibit my street photography. I plan to self-publish a book. I think that’s the best way to present this kind of work and get it in front of people. When I was asked if I’d like to exhibit some of my street photography at RBC Place, I jumped at the opportunity. This is the first time I’ve seen a collection of it framed and curated.
I’ve generally exhibited a collection of work thematically. In this case, the work was selected and I then had to think of a theme, or title, that tied it together. Most people who are interested in street photography are familiar wth Henri Cartier-Bresson’s reference to the decisive moment. For whatever reason, that notion of capturing an essential moment in time often reminded me of Miles Davis referring to the space between the notes being what’s important to music. As I pondered these two thoughts, I Googled “the space between the notes” and discovered it was Debussy who said, “Music is the space between the notes.” It was while pondering these ideas I thought of the title for the exhibition. It seemed to articulate how I feel when I look at a street photo I really like; the magic of a moment in time that silently expresses a story—captured within the symphony of city life.
Q: What inspires you as an artist?
A: I think all artists are inspired by their life experiences, both simple and profound. I’m inspired by many things. Looking at other artists’s work, particularly paintings, sculptures, and photographs. I’m inspired by music. I’m quite fond of jazz—especially improvisational—and early 20th century classical. Music has had a profound influence on me.
I’m inspired by seeing the world through other people’s eyes who have lived a different kind of life than I have. I’m inspired by listening to children's’ view of the world. We’d all do well by slowing down and seeing the world the way children do, with a sense of wonder and excitement.
I’m inspired by books I read and by people who have done rare and exceptional things.
All this is to say, the world is a rich place. There’s a lot to take in. Some of it we take in consciously if we decide to be awake and observe what’s going on around us. But there is so much more we take in subconsciously and if we put ourselves in situations where we can absorb rich raw material for our subconscious mind, these things will eventually be expressed through our creativity.
Q: Walk us through the creative process behind this work, how do you go about capturing images like this?
A: I suppose it’s a well-worn cliché to draw an analogy to hunting and fishing with regard to street photography, but it’s a good one. Certainly for me at least. If you’re out on the street with a camera I suppose you’re always hunting. Sometimes, as with Emery Variety, the opportunity just jumps out at you. I happened into this variety store with nothing but my phone and when I saw the “collage” on the wall I had to capture it. It appealed to my sense of finding order within seeming chaos.
Guilty, Ignore My Douche Boyfriend, and Official Butter Tart Tester are examples of going out to places or events where I assumed I would encounter interesting visual stories. In other words, finding situations where the hunting would be lucrative.
I also like to fish. Finding a spot that provides an interesting backdrop or situation but needs someone to walk into it to make it interesting—to complete the story. Handmaid’s Tale and Skater are good examples. I really liked the scenario of the poster for the Handmaid’s Tale TV series in a transit shelter on Front Street in Toronto. All I needed was the right person to walk into the frame. I was well rewarded for my hour-long wait.
For Skater, I saw these young men doing what skate boarders do. I hung out and took about 100 frames. It wasn’t until reviewing them later in editing I noticed the little girl looking back at the skater. She makes the photo. Completes the story.
Contemplation was just luck of having a camera with me. I have no idea what the subject was doing but it makes an intriguing story.
Q: Why does creativity matter to you?
A: That’s a question that could lead to a lot of tangental thoughts.
Creativity matters to me as a skill or gift that supports me in all aspects of my life. From problem-solving to spending my time in ways that bring me joy.
Creativity is, for better or worse, what has brought civilization to where we are today. And for the most part, it’s pretty amazing.
I like what Rick Rubin has said about creativity: The ability to look deeply is the root of creativity. To see past the ordinary and mundane and get to what might otherwise be invisible. Perhaps that’s his way of referring to the silence between the notes.
Q: What gaps currently exist when it comes to supporting the Arts? What kind of support is needed?
A: I’m a relative new comer to the art scene so I’m not sure I’m qualified to answer that except perhaps as simply a member of society. In North America in particular, the arts are becoming less valued as illustrated by the decrease in funding, both for public art and our education system when at the same time, sports are highly regarded and supported.
Many cities in Canada have lost their symphony orchestras for example. But not their hockey teams.
The arts are important to society—to the development of civilization—by providing historical context and insight for millennia; by leading to healthy cultural discussion. Art makes the world more beautiful, interesting, and enriching. It helps people connect their rational being with their creative nature. I believe we could use more of that in North America.
According to a 2000 report by the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts, Finland leads the per capita spend on the arts at $91, followed by Germany at $85. Canada isn’t too bad at $46 when you consider the U.K. is $26 and the U.S. is $6.
How are we doing in London? I think there are a lot of people and organizations doing a great job considering the resources they have available to them. However, the budget allotted to the London Arts Council is, in my opinion, pathetic for a city our size. But it shows where the city’s priorities lie. Kitchener has a performing arts centre. We have a hockey arena.
Any gaps we have are ultimately a result and direct reflection of what the general public thinks about the value of art in our culture. I don’t know how you move that in a more positive direction. I wonder what Finland and Germany are doing that we aren’t.
Q: What do you envision now for your future in the Arts here in London?
A: I dipped my toe into the art scene in London in 2018 with my first exhibition at the Westland Gallery. In 2022 I sold my business interests to my partners and have focused on my creative work full time since then. Earlier this year I embarked on a project documenting—interviewing and photographing—local visual artists with a goal to mount an exhibition of portraits and later self-publish a book of the portraits accompanied by a narrative from the conversations I’ve had with these people. It’s been an amazing experience. I feel extremely fortunate to have met the people I have, to have had profound conversations and insights into the lives of people who’s names far too few Londoners would even know. I hope to change that.
This project has taken on a life of its own and has already led to some amazing opportunities and ideas. What do I envision for my future in the arts in London? I don’t know except to say I’ve begun an exciting journey and am looking forward to where it takes me.
Q: What made you most excited about putting yourself out there to work with the London Arts Council and RBC Place London for this exhibition?
A: I’ve never seen my street photography exhibited. That’s exciting. I suppose getting feedback about what others think of it is the most exciting. I appreciate the exposure and hope it’s a step toward me finally putting a monograph together. Or perhaps another exhibit somewhere.
Q: We hope to see lots more of your artwork around the city. Where else can we find your artwork?
A: I have work on display at the Museum London gift shop. I’ll be part of a group show at the Westland Gallery that opens in November. And, as I mentioned earlier, I’m looking forward to exhibiting my portraits of local artists in a local gallery sometime in the fall of 2025.
View The Silence Between the Notes exhibtion at RBC Place London on the following dates:
Thursday October 24, 2024 | 11:00AM-4:00PM |
Monday October 28, 2024 | 12:00PM-5:00PM |
Thursday October 31, 2024 | 11:30AM-2:00PM |
Wednesday November 13, 2024 | 8:00AM-4:00PM |
Thursday November 14, 2024 | 11:30AM-2:00PM |
Monday November 18, 2024 | 4:00PM-7:00PM |
Thursday November 21, 2024 | 11:00AM-3:00PM |
Wednesday December 4, 2024 | 10:00AM-2:00PM |
Thursday December 12, 2024 | 11:00AM-2:00PM |
**enter via the main doors on York St.**
The objectives of the Gallery program are: to create a beautiful, unique, and cultured atmosphere; provide compelling experiences for local, national, and international visitors; educate the public by presenting a series of diverse artworks created by local professional artists; and provide professional opportunities for local artists, including increased promotion, sales, and career enhancement.
For more information about this project or inquiries regarding purchasing artworks, please contact the London Arts Council at info@londonarts.ca
Comments