Red Deer gallery hosts black-and-white photo exhibit on Alberta coal history
The exhibit runs through October at the Kiwanis Gallery inside the Red Deer Public Library, with a public opening event planned for early September.
The Red Deer Arts Council is presenting "Coal in Alberta: A Journey to Obsolescence," a photography exhibition on display at the Kiwanis Gallery from Aug. 18 to Oct. 6, 2026. The exhibit is the work of the Monochrome Guild, an Edmonton-based collective of traditional fine art photographers founded in 2002 by Rob Pohl and others who work exclusively with film cameras.
According to the artists' statement, the project uses only traditional black-and-white film methods to document the history of Alberta's coal industry, including its human and environmental costs. The photographers say their images reflect on hardship, health issues and accidents that shortened lives connected to the industry, and incorporate interpretations of memorials to those affected.
The Monochrome Guild states its belief that a return to coal mining in Alberta risks repeating past harms for what the group considers diminishing returns, and hopes the exhibition prompts reflection on the issue.
A First Fridays opening event is scheduled for Sept. 4 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Red Deer Public Library, located at 4818 - 49th Street, with the artists in attendance. The exhibit is open to the public during the library's regular operating hours throughout its run.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.