Ryan Walker

Some of our photos featured in today’s Guardian. Link in bio.

Back in the early days of my career, I was fortunate enough to count the ROM as one of my clients. 14 years ago I would shoot events and behind-the-scenes of exhibitions and openings. Never did I foresee one day showing my own work within the walls of this celebrated institution. On Sunday, my collaborative partner, Vid Ingelevics, and I will join a fireside discussion about the Port Lands work we have been doing for the last 4.5 years with Soren Brothers, Curator of Climate Change at the ROM. We’ll be sharing images and the various themes we’re exploring as we piece together thousands of photographs of this transforming site on Toronto’s Waterfront. The event is this Sunday, and while it’s sold out, there will be a recording available for viewing at a later date. So very grateful for this incredible opportunity made possible by Waterfront Toronto and for the amazing collaboration with Vid. Looking forward to this! —— [1] August 2019 - First site visit together and the beginning of a multi-year collaboration. [2] January 2020 - 130 Commissioners Demolition. [3] August, 2020 - T&T Supermarket Demolition. [4] November 2019 - Building tanks for the on-site water treatment facility, which will treat all water for the duration of the construction process. [5] May 2021 - Arrival of new Commissioners Street Bridge via barge from the east coast. [6] June 2020 - Sheneice White, Ellis Don Field Engineer. Monitoring soil contamination as the river valley is excavated. [7] March 2023 - Reviewing plans for stormwater treatment deep beneath surface level, south side of Villiers Street. [8] December 2023 - Night crews work on the banks of the future river where old Cherry Street used to run. [9] June 2023 - Wetlands maintenance. One year since first planting. [10] August 2023 - Establishing wetlands.

Vid Ingelvics and I invite you to our artists’ tour of our new Port Lands exhibition, Greenwork. Next Saturday, May 27th, 1pm (rain or shine). Meet at the Essoroc Silo at the corner of Cherry St and Villiers St. As it is also Doors Open, there will be an opportunity to ascend a new platform nearby to get the big overview of the new river construction and entire work site. Helpful hints: park on Munition St., cycle there on MG trail, walk from Distillery District, 72B & C TTC bus right to corner of Villiers and Cherry Sts from Pape subway station. Vid and I are excited to finally have an official opening/site visit/artists' talk right at the Port Lands site since Covid restrictions made these events a bit more difficult in previous years. Looking forward to seeing folks on Saturday! #contactphotographyfestival #doorsopentoronto #publicart #portlandsfloodprotectionproject #PLFP #waterfronttoronto

PART 2: Some photos over the last year of 'How to Build A River' - a public exhibition that @artinfact_0052 and I created for @contactphoto ‘s 2022 festival. It is always exciting to see the work out in the world, exposed to the harsh elements of the Port Lands location. The fourth chapter of the project - 'Greenwork' - was installed a couple weeks ago. —— Below is a piece of the curatorial statement by @chloe.catan from @waterfront.to

Some photos over the last year of 'How to Build A River' - a public exhibition that @artinfact_0052 and I created for @contactphoto ‘s 2022 festival. It is always exciting to see the work out in the world, exposed to the harsh elements of the Port Lands location. The fourth chapter of the project - 'Greenwork' - was installed a couple weeks ago. —— Below is a piece of the curatorial statement by @chloe.catan from @waterfront.to

2022: A Year of Change An emotional reflection on the last 365 days of milestones and memories that set the course for a new life in the country, with our first child. I still cannot fathom the amount of love Jenn and I feel for Callum. A love like no other, growing stronger every day. Farewell Toronto. Hello fatherhood. // Music: "Belinda Says" by Alvvays #canonaz814 #canonsuper8

PART 2: Just two days left to see ‘A Mobile Landscape’ - a public exhibition that @artinfact_0052 and I created for @contactphoto ‘s 2021 festival. It was exciting to see the work through the seasons, the varied changes along Villiers street and the public’s intersection with the photos for the last year. The next chapter of the project - 'How to Build A River' - will be installed this week. —— Below is a piece of the curatorial statement by @chloe.catan from @waterfront.to

PART 1 : Just two days left to see ‘A Mobile Landscape’ - a public exhibition that @artinfact_0052 and I created for @contactphoto ‘s 2021 festival. It was exciting to see the work through the seasons, the varied changes along Villiers street and the public’s intersection with the photos for the last year. The next chapter of the project - 'How to Build A River' - will be installed this week. —— Below is a piece of the curatorial statement by @chloe.catan from @waterfront.to

SOUND ON. This clip takes me back to Kathy & Laurence’s plot of land (and pond) in BC’s Gulf Islands a week before the world shut down in 2020. For the first few months of the pandemic, humanity gave our planet a break. I often reflect on the unfathomable change we experienced during that time. #earthdayeveryday

Tomorrow is the last day of ‘Framework’ - a public exhibition that @artinfact_0052 and I created for @contactphoto ‘s 2020 festival. Sad to see it come down after 9 months, but also excited for the next chapter of the project, which will be installed this week. —— Below is a piece of the curatorial stament by @chloe.catan from @waterfront.to

⁣Earth Month // Earth Day 2021⠀ ⠀ Feeling pangs of both gratitude and guilt while admiring our blue planet in images taken above from a plane. ⠀ ⠀ I was given many opportunities to work abroad in 2019. Always stopping to look out the window from the air shuttles I boarded. Always appreciating the moment, while considering their cost to the planet. ⠀ ⠀ 1) Grand Canyon, April 2019⠀ 2) Northern Ontario, Feb 2020.⠀ 3) Southern Ontario, Feb 2020⠀ 4 & 5) Greater Vancouver Area, Feb 2020⠀ 6) South Island, New Zealand. April 2019⠀ 7) Western United States, 2018⠀ 8) Rocky Mountains, Canada. Feb 2020.⠀ 9) Prairies, Canada. Feb 2020.⠀ 10) Lake Superior. Feb 2020.⠀ ⠀ This last year has given me more time, space and perspective to reflect on my choices – past, present and future – imperfect as they may be. I try to remind myself that Earth won't heal with a handful of perfect environmentalists. All it needs is millions of us doing it imperfectly. #earthday #aerialphotography #windowview

Tomorrow night I will be joining @burleyrobert @tophotolaureate @blakefitzpatrick9 @artinfact_0052 for a discussion about photography, urban green spaces and society’s relationship between the city and nature. Bob Burley will talk about his new book, "Accidental Wilderness" exploring Toronto's Tommy Thompson Park. Vid Inglevics and I will be sharing new work from our project documenting the radical transformation of Toronto's Port Lands. Registration is apparently already over 300 folks or so, so sign up soon if you’d like to join us! — Wednesday April 7 5:30-6:30 PM Register on Eventbrite (link in bio): https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/natures-image-in-the-city-tickets-145754320095 #torontowaterfront #portlandstoronto #floodprotection #ecology #earthworks #documentary