New Book Features James Bay

By Josie Bannerman

Hyder, Lawren, Editor. It All Happens In James Bay: Colour Photographs by Jesse Hyder. Richmond BC: Blurb, © 2013.

Long time readers of The Beacon will remember Jesse Hyder, Centre Coordinator at the James Bay Community School for almost 30 years, until his unexpected death in 2008. His regular column in our paper chronicled events both at the school and in the community. Community education, classrooms without walls, preschool, daycare, seniors' dinners, and the art walk are all part of his legacy.

And now his art photography, a particular passion in his life, is an important element of that legacy as well.

Lawren Hyder, Jesse's son, recently published a book that features Jesse's art photography. Lawren grew up in James Bay and recalls that his father always had a camera nearby. "He was a habitual observer of everyday life," Lawren said. "If some photograph turned out particularly well, Jesse would walk over to the neighbours with it, or stick it in his bag in case he bumped into you at the grocery store."

Photographs that Lawren chose for the book are mostly from the 1970's and 1980's and reveal many aspects of life in James Bay - familiar landmarks and eye catching foliage, businesses (now closed) that some of us still remember, glimpses of backyards and details of everyday life. The editor provides only locations and dates - he offers no commentary about the photographs themselves. When asked why he took this approach, Lawren said: "Photographs become inherently more interesting as they age, but my intent was not to create a family album or historic record. My goal in the design, and in the order and selection of images, was emotional resonance. These photographs were not taken by Mr. Jesse Hyder, whom I knew well, but by young Jesse, the artist-a figure as mysterious to me as to anyone else."

Nevertheless, Lawren - himself a photographer - sees his father's work as part of an emerging photographic trend. Although the photograph accompanying this article is in black and white, Jesse worked in colour - unusual for art photography of the time. "William Eggleston was one of the first colour photographers whose work was recognized as fine art," Lawren said. "He is famous for pioneering what came to be known as the 'snapshot aesthetic,' a casual style that to us now seems, well, utterly obvious. I see my father's work as being in that same vein: a studied and technically proficient looseness - equal parts documentation and deadpan humour." 

"This is a book for fans of photography, for long time residents of James Bay, for anyone who knew and loved Jesse and is interested in seeing another side of him, through his eyes," Lawren said. "Think of it as a quiet walk around the neighbourhood with an old friend." 

It All Happens In James Bay: Colour Photographs by Jesse Hyder is available only online at . The soft cover edition costs $44.99, and the hardcover edition is $127.99. Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.