REVIEWS

A Path of His Own is a near perfect miniature portrait of photographer Patrick Wey. It’s the kind of high class program that seems to have almost disappeared from CBC, so it’s doubly welcome. The profile was produced by Paula Neilson and wisely lets Wey explain his own very different ways of working. He excels in several fields: black and white studies of Mennonites around Kitchener, touchingly revealing portraits of Indian elders which tell far more than a video camera could do. His colour studies mix photography and coloured gelatins to produce colours as vivid as stained glass windows.”

By Jim Bawden – The Toronto Star – Toronto, Ontario, Canada

 

“Wey’s photos, currently on display at the K-W Art Gallery, range in style from stark black and white urban scenes to coloured, mystical visions of the sacred sweat lodge. ‘There has been a very strong public reaction to Patrick’s show.’ notes Brad Blain, director of the K-W Art Gallery. ‘There are a lot of images involved. It’s a very full body of work.’ Many native leaders from across Canada and the United States joined about 300 others to see the show on opening night.”

By Katherine Hayes – The K-W Record – Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

 

“Wey’s photographs are at once powerful and soulful. Through evocative imagery he captures a sense of what are ultimately ineffable experiences.”

By Robert Reid – The K-W Record – Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

 

“The impressive body of work of award winning photographer Patrick Wey of Petersburg, is showcased on CBC’s Sunday Arts and Entertainment. Wey is renowned for his photographic paean to human spirituality, especially the native Canadian community. His best-known work is An Urban Elder, focusing on Cree elder, Vern Harper. This program focuses mainly on his stirring photographic essays, including his human studies, reflective images and coloured gelatin slides.

By Bonnie Malleck – The K-W Record – Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

 

“Nationally renowned photographer Patrick Wey presents a photo-animated work both sensual and mysterious that takes the viewer into a spiritual, visually hallucinogenic world. Wey’s program includes Crow Space and Urban Elder .

The Princess Cinema Film Guide – Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

 

“Wey, now 47, experienced fasts and sweat lodges from which tribal visions come. All this may help explain the visionary feel and psychedelic colours of Wey’s imagery.”

Photo Life Canada- Markham, Ontario

 

“Patrick is the consummate photo artist involved in a photo-journalistic project, Urban Elder, with Cree elder Vern Harper. This project has been featured at the K-W Art Gallery, with Patrick’s beautiful interpretations of day to day native life and customs in the modern world. Patrick’s work is currently showcased in the international magazine Shaman’s Drum: a cover story concerning the treatment of native peoples within the prison system.”

By Coral Andrews – The Waterloo Chronicle – Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

 

“Patrick’s photographic magic creates images that only the most vivid and creative imaginations could come close to surpassing. Critics have claimed he is an expert at documenting reality and I can only agree. As one views his library of people and captured emotion, it is easy to see why he has earned a reputation of such a high esteem.”

By Carolyn Saunders – The Cord – Wilfred Laurier University – Waterloo, Ontario Canada

 

Urban Elder as an exhibit brings up questions why, in this multi-cultural age, a headdress in a Canadian city is less familiar than a turban and this is where Wey’s Urban Elder most concretely succeeds.”

By Andie Kaufman – Motive – Guelph, Ontario, Canada

 

“From the Mennonites of Ontario, to New Yorkers, to the Huichole Indians of the Sierra Madres, photographer Patrick Wey is capturing them on film with skill and finesse. The most significant aspect of Wey’s work and years of mastered technique, is the timeliness of his re-emergence into the art mainstream.”

By Lorrie Callander – Spotlight – Burlington, Ontario, Canada