Guelph Circa 1999 – Ajay Heble

Guelph Circa 1999 features a series of portraits commissioned by The Bookshelf and photographed by Dean Palmer. The series became part of Guelph Museums’ permanent collection in 2018. 
 
Told through the stories of the people who spent time at The Bookshelf, a cultural hub in this city since 1973.
 
While the Museum is closed to the public at this time, we will be sharing some of the portraits for our digital visitors. Guelph Circa 1999 will be on view at Guelph Civic Museum until September 6.
Black and white photo of Ajay Hbley standing in front of a paneled wall. He has long shoulder length hear and a beard. He is wearing a collared shirt and sport jacket.

Ajay Heble

Guelph Jazz Festival

Ajay Heble is Director of the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation (IICSI) and Professor in the School of English and Theatre Studies at the University of Guelph. He is also Artistic Director Emeritus and Founding Artistic Director (1994–2016) of the award-winning Guelph Jazz Festival and Colloquium.

Since 1994, the Guelph Jazz Festival (GJF) has presented improvised music concerts and commissioned new works by local, national, and international artists. The GJF’s annual educational program explores creative improv as a model for social change. Among other honours, the GJF was awarded the Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2010.

On its 20th anniversary, the GJF partnered with the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre (now Art Gallery of Guelph) and the Improvisation, Community, and Social Practice research project (precursor to IICSI) on the first major exhibition of Thomas King’s jazz photography. King had been photographing the GJF for 20 years, capturing candid, open moments in the work and lives of visiting musicians.

Photo: Ajay Heble, photographed at the McKinnon Building, University of Guelph. Photo by Dean Palmer.

Posted by Dawn Owen on March 20, 2020

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