Laura Power
Northern News Services
Published Friday, December 7, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Photographer Ozgur Culha, originally from Turkey, has been living in Canada since 2001.

Since she moved to Yellowknife two years ago for a job with Northern Arts and Cultural Centre, she said she has grown to feel at home in the city.

Ozgur Culha has put together a collection of photos of immigrants living in the NWT for an exhibit that goes on display this weekend. - photo courtesy of Ozgur Culha

"The quality of community makes me feel (at) home," she said. "You can be who you want to be."

She said while she was working on a photography project, she met a lot of people from different backgrounds who inspired her. Consequentially, she chose the theme of Home for her new photography exhibit, which opens this weekend.

It includes portraits of a variety of Northerners from Tuktoyaktuk to Fort Smith going about their daily business. Though her collection includes more than 40 photos, 23 will be on display.

"They are elders, young people, immigrants, and I photographed cab drivers, construction workers, students..." she said.

Portrait photography is her main interest when it comes to getting behind the camera. She also enjoys photographing weddings.

"First of all, I am a very people-oriented person, and I really, really enjoy spending time (with) people from different backgrounds," she said. "And I am always interested in people's facial features, and especially ordinary people on the street, walking."

Along with the photos at the exhibit will be some accompanying audio. A recording was made of 15 people's voices from around Yellowknife.

"They are singing, telling stories or telling poems in their native languages," said Culha.

There were 50 copies of this audio recording made. They will be available by donation to attendees at the Sunday event. The donations will help provide Christmas gifts to people at the YWCA.

One of the things Culha said will be great about the exhibit is the diverse crowd that is expected to gather. She said many people who often may not socialize together will find themselves in the same place.

"That's very exciting, especially for the immigrant community here - I get a lot of support from them," she said.

A reception for the exhibit will take place on Sunday afternoon at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre at 2 p.m. The photos will be available for viewing until Feb. 15.