An international photography exhibition in three Swindon Parks is well under way.
Photographer Jason Florio and his wife, Helen Jones Florio, left, with parish council chair Cllr Chris Watts and exhibition organiser and curator Jennifer Berry
Photo Swindon 21 is an outdoor touring photography exhibition conceived and curated by Swindon photographer Jennifer Berry and delivered in partnership with South Swindon parish Council.
It sees three internationally-acclaimed photographers - Jason Florio, Martin Parr and Sanne De Wilde - exhibit their images in succession at the Town Gardens, GWR Park and Queen's Park.
The first exhibitor is Jason Florio, an award-winning British photojournalist and filmmaker who has chosen images of people he met as he traced the River Gambia from its source in Guinea-Conakry to the Atlantic.
Speaking alongside his wife and collaborator Helen Jones Florio, he said: "We had the easy bit - we just handed over the stuff!
"For me, I think it's an essential way for us to present the work. It's very nice to put it in a nice, white gallery somewhere, but it feels a little elitist and I love the idea that the audience is really broad. I really like that - it's not exclusive.
"The idea of us doing the work was to share it with everyone. It's not something that's directed at a particular group or anything.
He added: "It shouldn't be too precious. I think for a lot of art, and documentary photography particularly, I'm not sure galleries are the best place for it, because it does feel like a lot of galleries are too precious.
"This is where it should be seen."
Mr Florio's work was first exhibited at the Town Gardens and will be at GWR Park from 13 to 20 July before being moved to Queen's Park from 22 to 29 July.
Martin parr's work will be at Queen's park from 31 July to 8 August, GWR Park from 10 to 19 August and Queen's Park from 21 to 30 August, while Sanne De Wilde's exhibition is scheduled for the Town Gardens from 1 to 9 September, Queen's park from 11 to 19 September and the Town Gardens from 21 September to 3 October.
South Swindon Parish Council chair Chris Watts said: "I think it's all come together perfectly. We had our challenges - these frames are extremely heavy and it's going to be a bit of a logistical exercise moving them around town to the other parks..
"It's an extremely important part of the exhibition to make sure it's inclusive and people get to see it.
"We are talking world-renowned photographers who are getting involved with this. It's definitely a feather in the cap for Swindon and we were glad that we could facilitate it.
"The parish is only in its fifth year. We've gone from three employees up to 50 employees and created the organisation.
"We're now at a point where we want to use that organisation to promote culture and wellbeing, and improve the infrastructure where we can for the enjoyment of the parishioners of Swindon.
"This is our next stage and this is what we're moving forward with. This includes not only the exhibitions like this but putting the bowl back into action and improving the other parks and areas of the parish."
It sees three internationally-acclaimed photographers - Jason Florio, Martin Parr and Sanne De Wilde - exhibit their images in succession at the Town Gardens, GWR Park and Queen's Park.
The first exhibitor is Jason Florio, an award-winning British photojournalist and filmmaker who has chosen images of people he met as he traced the River Gambia from its source in Guinea-Conakry to the Atlantic.
Speaking alongside his wife and collaborator Helen Jones Florio, he said: "We had the easy bit - we just handed over the stuff!
"For me, I think it's an essential way for us to present the work. It's very nice to put it in a nice, white gallery somewhere, but it feels a little elitist and I love the idea that the audience is really broad. I really like that - it's not exclusive.
"The idea of us doing the work was to share it with everyone. It's not something that's directed at a particular group or anything.
He added: "It shouldn't be too precious. I think for a lot of art, and documentary photography particularly, I'm not sure galleries are the best place for it, because it does feel like a lot of galleries are too precious.
"This is where it should be seen."
Mr Florio's work was first exhibited at the Town Gardens and will be at GWR Park from 13 to 20 July before being moved to Queen's Park from 22 to 29 July.
Martin parr's work will be at Queen's park from 31 July to 8 August, GWR Park from 10 to 19 August and Queen's Park from 21 to 30 August, while Sanne De Wilde's exhibition is scheduled for the Town Gardens from 1 to 9 September, Queen's park from 11 to 19 September and the Town Gardens from 21 September to 3 October.
South Swindon Parish Council chair Chris Watts said: "I think it's all come together perfectly. We had our challenges - these frames are extremely heavy and it's going to be a bit of a logistical exercise moving them around town to the other parks..
"It's an extremely important part of the exhibition to make sure it's inclusive and people get to see it.
"We are talking world-renowned photographers who are getting involved with this. It's definitely a feather in the cap for Swindon and we were glad that we could facilitate it.
"The parish is only in its fifth year. We've gone from three employees up to 50 employees and created the organisation.
"We're now at a point where we want to use that organisation to promote culture and wellbeing, and improve the infrastructure where we can for the enjoyment of the parishioners of Swindon.
"This is our next stage and this is what we're moving forward with. This includes not only the exhibitions like this but putting the bowl back into action and improving the other parks and areas of the parish."
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