photo finish

Fredericton's (now defunct) On Vinyl. Photo by Kyle Cunjak.

In the end, the launch of local photographer Kyle Cunjak’s city hall exhibition of music photography closed too early for us to partake in. Kyle, who performs in several bands on his Forward Music label, is playing tonight (and twelve times in the next three days), and had to take off for preparations. That the opening closed 45 minutes ahead of schedule may have had something to do with turn-out, but we wouldn’t know.

Not to be thwarted, we caught up with a cheerful Mr. Cunjak at the Capital bar complex after a short, perplexed visit to the steps of city hall. His exhibition comes on the eve of a potential ECMA for best photographer, his first such nomination for his colourful, technically precise and often humorous compositions. Several bands featured in the photos had attended the opening, including juggernauts Wintersleep.

Kyle, it could be said, exemplifies how an artist can build on his reputation and network to promote it elsewhere when a event like the ECMA’s lands in his hometown.

“I’ve been meeting with international booking agents and festival organizers and labels so we can start exporting [Forward Music Group’s] artists internationally. And I’m having a good time so far; there’s a lot to see,” Kyle said.

Photographer/Musician Kyle Cunjak. Cheese!

Now we are at home. Maggie is preparing notes for her appearance on CBC morning radio while I play spider solitaire and contemplate our next move. I’ve found it difficult to strike any sort of itinerary for the weekend, other than the pursuit of what’s free and what’s under-the-radar. It’s been difficult, to a point, to remind myself that these hectic days are my last in this city I have lived in so long. I wonder in moments like this if going out with a bang is a sincere way to leave a place; to speed through a series of crazy events without stopping to contemplate what this place was to me, and obscure, or try to, the pain of letting go.