Peter MacCallum is known for his mastery of the photographic medium, producing works that have been called "lessons in observation." He is especially interested in architecture, industry, and urban spaces. In this exhibition, MacCallum presents two recent series: Massey Hall and Guitar Stores.
MacCallum’s documentation of Massey Hall was part of a larger project in which he photographed the commercial architecture along Yonge Street. He was motivated by a desire to capture Massey Hall’s unique mixture of architectural styles, as well as the special intimacy that can be created there between performer and audience.
The Massey Hall project sparked the artist’s interest in music as a business, an interest he pursued by exploring the interior landscapes of various Toronto guitar stores. As he has done with other retail and work spaces, MacCallum documents the distinctive visual accumulation found in these shops, and the chaos and beauty of an environment filled with music, instruments, and their enthusiasts.
In a way that is characteristic of MacCallum's work, these images facilitate appreciation of the specific architectural qualities of each interior. They also demonstrate the artist's skill at capturing the social character of everyday spaces rich with work, life and history.
MacCallum lives and works in Toronto, Canada. His photographs have been exhibited in solo and group shows, including: Songs of the Future, Art Gallery of Ontario, 2011; Yonge Street at Toronto Image Works Gallery, 2010; Vimy Ridge, Oakville Galleries, 2009; Concrete Industries, Museum London, 2004; Larus Delawarensis, Oakville Galleries, 2003; Cement/Concrete, The Eric Arthur Gallery, University of Toronto, 2002; and Substitute City, The Power Plant, Toronto, 2001. His photographs have received critical praise in publications such as Canadian Architect, Prefix Photo and Spacing magazines. Peter MacCallum’s photographs have found a home in the collections of The Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, The Oakville Galleries, The Art Gallery of Mississauga, The City of Toronto Archives, The Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto, TD Bank, and other corporate and private collections.
MacCallum’s exhibition Yonge Street / Rue du Faubourg Saint Denis is currently on view at The Eric Arthur Gallery, as part of the Contact Photography Festival, until August 10, 2012.
  
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