TRUST ME, YOU'RE GONNA LIKE IT HERE

By Elyse Bouvier, Claire Power, Kyler Zeleny

Exhibition Runs AUG 30-SEPT 13 | 12-5PM daily

GLADSTONE HOTEL, 2nd FLOOR GALLERY

OPENING, SEPT 1 | 7-10 PM

Canadian’s perception of Alberta is one of seemingly endless abundance: endless prairie skies, staggering mountains, and then there’s the black gold—both in terms of nutrient rich soil and the bitumen that lies dormant underneath it. But on the precipice of an environmental and economic crisis, Alberta’s position of wealth in Canada, and the collective identity of the people who depend on it, is changing. Alberta is in a crisis of identity, trying to reconcile its proud past with an uncertain present and the possibility of a prosperous future.

Trust Me, You’re Gonna Like it Here brings together the work of three photographers—two Albertans and one from Italy—who seek to question the prevailing narratives of Alberta. This curated exhibition explores “Albertaness” as an evolving identity that reflects the true diversity and allure of the province.

With images of each photographer's impression and views of Alberta, the collection illustrates the journey each photographer took in Alberta. They are reflective of the history and industry of the landscape itself, and a reference to an experience of Alberta that is somewhat familiar and nostalgic but explicitly rural in its expression.