Waddington’s Presents the SNAP Photography Auction in Support of ACT (AIDS Committee of Toronto)

The auction will be offered online October 3 – 8.

SNAP 2019 Photo Competition Winner
Leah den Bok, DUFFY

Overview
The annual SNAP Gala and Photography Auction is a glamorous affair, held at the Art Deco-inflected Arcadian Court in downtown Toronto. Art collectors mingle, the wine flows, and the dancing continues late into the night—that is, it did before COVID-19. In light of the new circumstances, ACT (AIDS Committee of Toronto) had to re-imagine their important fundraising event and reached out to Waddington’s to help.

As a result, Waddington’s is proud to present the SNAP Photography Online Auction on behalf of ACT. The auction represents the winners and jury selections from the annual Photo Competition, including contemporary, lens-based works selected from among hundreds of entries by a blind jury of talented professionals.

All proceeds from this auction go directly to ACT (AIDS Committee of Toronto).

Meet the Competition Winners:

SNAP 2019 Photo Competition Winner
Leah den Bok, DUFFY
Fine Art Print Baryta, white mat
Official SNAP label on reverse;
11.25 ins x 14 ins; 28.6 cms x 35.6 cms
Estimate $1,000-$2,500

Leah is a 19-year-old photography student at Sheridan College. For the past four years she has been traveling, with her dad, to cities throughout the world photographing the homeless and recording their stories. She is the author of the book series Nowhere to Call Home.

Artist Statement: I spotted Duffy as I was driving in Hamilton in 2018. It took me 15 minutes to park. Fortunately, Duffy was still there when I went looking for him. He told us, “I’ve been on my own since four.” His friend told us, “He’d give you the shirt off his back.”

SNAP 2019 Photo Competition Rising Star Award of Merit
Theodora Mitrakos, OYSTER MUSHROOMS
Fine Art Print Baryta, Backmount Sintra
Official SNAP label on reverse;
10 ins x 6 ins; 25.4 cms x 15.2 cms
Estimate $1,000-$2,500

Theodora Mitrakos is a conceptual photographer and artist based in Toronto, Canada. She likes good music, good books, and her dog, Stella (who is often an unwilling model). Her work has been featured in Applied Arts Magazine and PhotoEd, among others.

Artist Statement: Oyster Mushroom is inspired by the evocative still life work of Ed Weston, and was created in homage to his work.

SNAP 2019 Photo Competition Award of Merit Recipient
Alexander Alter, MAIL PORTRAIT, STUDY
Ultra Smooth Inkjet Print, Backmount Sintra
Official SNAP label on reverse;
14 5/16 ins x 24 ins; 36870.6 cms x 61 cms
Estimate $1,000-$2,500

Alexander is originally from Toronto, Canada, now living between Toronto and Milan, Italy. Alexander graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design in both Design and Printmaking. He continued his education in the U.S. and received an MFA in Design from Cranbrook Academy of Art. Alexander had a career in design for 24 years with clients that included Alfred Sung, C Magazine and Saturday Night.

Artist Statement: I recently had seen a Futurist Photo exhibition and been impressed by the play on focus in either moving the camera or subject. I found their approach to using the camera was more playful and emotional than technically; this always gets me thinking about how I might employ new perspectives to approach my art. Mail Portrait: Study, takes advantage of multiple images to imply movement, as well as portray the various facets of a persona, which is never two-dimensional.

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About the Auction
All proceeds from this auction go directly to the AIDS Committee of Toronto.
This auction will be offered online from October 3 – 8.
In-person previews of the works are not available. Please view the gallery online here.

Terms & Conditions
The auction is offered under special Terms & Conditions that differ from Waddington’s regular Terms & Conditions. Please review here.
New to Waddington’s auctions? You must register to bid. Please register here.
For more information about the works in the auction please contact Matt O’Donnell, Special Events Coordinator for ACT, at modonnell@actoronto.org.

About ACT
Proceeds from this auction will support the free programs and services offered at ACT, Canada’s largest HIV and AIDS service organization. ACT was founded in 1983 by a group of community volunteers with the mission to end AIDS in Toronto through sexual health education, prevention and outreach. ACT works towards a city with zero new HIV infections, zero HIV-related stigma and discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths while promoting the independence, dignity, health and well-being of those living with HIV and AIDS and those at increased risk of HIV. ACT primarily serves gay, bi, queer people living with HIV and those at increased risk for new HIV-infection. They offer counseling and support groups, social support programs and anonymous HIV-testing. ACT also offers programming for young people, women, and has a one-of-a-kind employment program to help people living with HIV and LGBTQ2+ folks find meaningful employment in their field after taking time to focus on their health. To learn more, please visit ACT’s website at actoronto.org.

Find Out More About SNAP 2021
‘TOGETHER IN ISOLATION: Finding Comfort, Calm and Connection in a time of chaos’

Every year, ACT hosts an online lens-based art competition that attracts photographers of all styles and levels of experience. Proceeds from the competition entry fees help support our vital programs and services.

Selected entries will become part of the SNAP 2021 Silent Auction Collection which will be exhibited and sold at the gala taking place on March 25, 2021 in support of ACT. Photographic entries will be submitted digitally by email. Photos selected for the Silent Auction will be printed and mounted by our print sponsor, Blacks.

All photographers and lens-based artists are welcome.

EXTENDED Submission Period: Entries will now be accepted through 11:59 pm EST on Friday, October 16, 2020.