Woman and neighbour’s bond inspires photography exhibit

Peyton Keeler-Cox, one of the exhibitors for the MacLaren Art Centre’s new season, with part of her exhibit, 'Questions Nobody Asked Me.' (CTV News/Dave Sullivan)

A university graduate student is highlighting the power of chosen family through photography.

Peyton Keeler-Cox, one of the exhibitors for the MacLaren Art Centre’s new season, is examining themes like memory, grief and care through photos of archives.

The Barrie art gallery had its Summer Opening Reception Thursday night introducing a new season of exhibitions running throughout the summer and fall.

Keeler-Cox, a Toronto Metropolitan University student in her last year, is showing her thesis show, ‘Questions Nobody Asked Me.’

The focus is on her relationship with a man named Roy, a neighbour who lived across the street from her and her family who developed a unique bond.

He lived there for more than a decade and during that time, Keeler-Cox and her family became close with him, so much so that he entrusted them with his estate.

Roy would regale Keeler-Cox with stories of him and his wife and while Keeler-Cox said she never met his wife when she was alive, she felt like she knew her based on Roy’s stories.

Inspired by his life and stories, Keeler-Cox photographed archives throughout his house that reflected his stories and late wife.

Having grown up in Barrie and her work shown at the MacLaren in the past including another photography exhibit and a painting, having this exhibition at the gallery is especially significant.

“It’s a beautiful thing to be back here and have my own exhibition and it’s such a meaningful exhibition,” Keeler-Cox said.

“It’s a beautiful thing for someone to entrust you with their story.”

The exhibit depicts relationships that are unexpected and shared across generations.

“Family isn’t blood – it’s those that you connect with, those that you trust and so I built a really beautiful relationship with Roy and so did my family and he’s very much a part of our family, so it’s a beautiful thing to share how I feel and the relationship I had with him and the trust that we shared and here, home in Barrie at the MacLaren, its very special,” said Keeler-Cox.

Exhibits will be on display until October. Doors are open Tuesday to Sunday and admission is by donation.