By Amanda Buckiewicz

Artists have to be resourceful. So when Toronto-based photographer Jamie Campbell ended up with a bunch of mascot heads from a failed photo shoot, he put them to good use.
The result is his photo exhibit, entitled Beasts of Burden, and it’s having its opening reception this weekend at the Harbourfront Centre.
“It all came together out of a failed attempt to use mascot costumes in a series on motivation. So I scrapped the costumes and started shooting people, really focusing in on gesture and gaze, to try to convey burden and weight carried,” says Campbell.
“There was something missing, and I wasn’t sure what it was… then it hit me: it was the giant animal heads.”
The mascot heads, usually used to motivate people, are in this case shown as a physical representation of burden.
The exhibit opens officially on January 20 and runs until March 11. If you want to check out the opening reception, it’s Friday January 19 from 6 – 9 P.M. at the York Quay Centre.
Photo by Jamie Campbell from the Beasts of Burden Collection.