Neil Zeller - Porchraits: Calgary Families in Isolation During COVID-19

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Neil Zeller, "Porchraits," 2020

All Access Week has been rescheduled to November 14 – 22.

Glenbow will be closed to the public between October 31 and November 13.

A single positive case of COVID-19 has been identified in a non-public-facing Glenbow staff member. Out of an abundance of caution, we are temporarily closing Glenbow’s building to do a deep clean and prevent any chance of further transmission of the virus. Glenbow will remain closed to the public until November 14 to ensure that when we reopen for All Access Week our visitors can feel comfortable and enjoy an energizing visit to the museum.

Porchraits: Calgary Families in Isolation During COVID-19

Co-curated by Glenbow and Neil Zeller

When Calgary went into pandemic lockdown in March 2020, many small business owners and artists were hit hard by the sudden loss of work and revenue. What started as an idea to make some money to save his photography company turned into much more for Calgary photographer Neil Zeller. His “porchraits” – socially distant family portrait sessions – became a way to build community and provide joy during a time of uncertainty and great need.

Word spread fast on social media when Zeller posted his offer to provide porchrait sessions to anyone who asked, for free or by donation.

Zeller says “the response was incredible, and I was booked solid, doing between 10-25 photoshoots each day. My porchraits project brought people a moment of relief and fun, giving each family something to look forward to beyond their day-to-day lockdown. The porchrait sessions highlighted what we were all recognizing during that time – that our strength comes from those we love. My goal for the porchrait sessions was to provide a 100% positive experience. I’d arrive and set up my camera on the sidewalk or a few metres from the home, and family members would arrange themselves. Between weather, pets, babies and other family dynamics, I experienced amazing highs and emotional lows alongside my porchraits families, and I will be grateful to all of them, forever. While we can’t fit all the porchraits on the wall, this show is a love letter back to each and every one of the families for supporting me in a great time of need! – Neil Zeller”

This exhibition of 55 photographs is a selection from the more than 650 families Zeller photographed. The images reflect the diversity of the lived experience in Calgary during this time and show that it’s sometimes the small, simple gestures that bring the most joy.