“Tedmonton”

Artist, advocate

The Scotford oil upgrader isn’t a place you would normally expect to find an artist in residence, but Ted Kerr knows better. For five weeks last fall, the 28-year-old was granted unlimited access to the Shell Chemicals facility to photographically document and interpret the on-site lives of its workers, whom he describes as Alberta’s unsung heroes. “The people who work there are an amazingly interesting and diverse group from across the globe… I was glad to have seen [them] with my own eyes,” says Ted. An exhibition of his large-scale images taken at the plant, and billed as “…the interconnection that exists between people and place, land and technology” was showcased during The Works International Visual Arts Festival this summer.

Ted is a self-proclaimed “urban explorer” who still shoots with film and has made “out-of-focus” an art form. His photo-based artworks have been displayed at Latitude 53, the Milner Gallery, Listen Records, Red Ribbon and the southside Sugar Bowl. Ted’s website is a visual journey into the souls of his subjects… into corners of the city few people would give a second glance… into the cultural collage of the community. He’s been known to declare, “Edmonton is awkward and it is beautiful.”

This multi-talented and self taught artist is the co-creator, with partner Eric Mooney, of Silverlining, a handbag and personal accessory line available at select boutiques across Western Canada. As an added dimension to his artistic bent, Ted is a member of the Mile Zero Dance company which seeks to educate and liberate Edmonton through dance.

Committed to educating locals about our city’s vast cultural diversity, he’s organizing Exposure, a queer arts festival which will take place in November. Ted is also HIV Edmonton’s volunteer coordinator, and was instrumental in the successful roll-out of AIDS Awareness Week. Having traveled internationally, he provided his perspective on the NextGen committee, a City-organized gathering of young people who discussed and recommended ways to entice the city’s youth to stay in Edmonton.

“As a proud Edmontonian, I can say there is no need to leave,” Ted reflects. “People always think things are better elsewhere, but it’s true of any city.

“It’s not where you are… it’s what you make of it.” √

Photo by Terry Bourque