FREDERICTON.- The Beaverbrook Art Gallery opened a special touring exhibition in Saint John. In fact, visitors to the Saint John Arts Centre will have the opportunity to see this exhibition, months before the Gallery’s own visitors, as the Saint John Arts Centre is the first venue for this exhibition.

The exhibition, The Lost City: Ian MacEachern’s Photographs of Saint John, presents 75 photographs by the artist that record life in the 1960s North End of the city.

“These narrative photographs are visceral and poignant, portraying the poverty as well as the humanity of mid-century Saint John” says the Gallery’s Manager of Collections and Exhibitions, John Leroux, who has also authored the book about MacEachern’s photos. “They document a city on the cusp of monumental change, and are among the finest visual documents of social conditions and urban life ever taken in Canada.”

The city at the heart of the photos made premiering the exhibition in Saint John an obvious choice.

“Ordinarily, our touring exhibitions are sent on tour after being first featured in our building here in Fredericton,” says Leroux. “Given focus on Saint John’s history, however, it made sense to pay tribute to the city at the heart of these photographs by first presenting it there.”

The Saint John Arts Centre’s Director, Andrew Kierstead, looks forward to presenting the exhibition:

“The Saint John Arts Centre is honoured to be the opening venue for The Lost City. I know this exhibition and the accompanying book will resonate with our local community. I want to thank the Beaverbrook Art Gallery for organizing this exhibition and for promoting Ian MacEachern’s unique body of work.”

The exhibition is supported by Commercial Properties Limited.

“We are pleased to support this exhibition of photographs featuring a critical period in Saint John’s past,” said CPL Vice-President Paul Moore. “As one of Eastern Canada’s top property developers, Commercial Properties understands the value of building on our collective heritage to strengthen and transform communities for today and the future.”

The exhibition is on view at the Saint John Arts Centre from November 2nd through December 21st; after a winter holiday, it will be installed and on view in Fredericton from January 19 through April 14.