Daniel Haché - Barber with a gallery

Daniel Haché started taking photographs because his sister dropped her camera off the Jacques Cartier Bridge.

Daniel and his sister were 12 at the time, born ten months apart in 1962. They were from the area around Caraquet, New Brunswick and were visiting Montreal with their parents. Earlier in the day, Daniel's parents had bought his sister a 110 mm camera and she was trying it out.

As the family drove up the ramp from St. Helen's Island onto the Jacques Cartier Bridge, Daniel's sister wanted to take a picture of the La Ronde amusement park below. Her father told her to hurry, because he couldn't stop the car on the ramp. She leaned out the window - and the camera fell out of her hands to La Ronde far below.

Daniel's parents told his sister they'd buy her a new camera to replace the lost one. When Daniel heard this he became jealous and said he wanted a camera, too! So back to the store the family went and by the end of the day, Daniel and his sister each had their own new camera.

When Daniel went to the Université de Moncton several years later he focused his studies on the visual arts. He eventually moved to Montreal, where he now cuts hair at Ça décoiffe, his barber shop on Papineau Avenue.

A couple of years ago Daniel and his sister were looking at the portraits and landscapes Daniel has taken over the years. When they came to a portrait Daniel had taken of a friend, his sister mentioned it was so popular that many people had asked for copies. That was when Daniel realized the effect his photographs can have on other people. For him, photography is a way to express impressions and ideas that can't be put into words.

Recently, Daniel decided to explore his creative nature a little further. He had already redesigned his barber shop to include space for exhibits by local artists. In November, he began to use the space for group photography shows as a way to exchange ideas and techniques. Each month Daniel invites local photographers to submit an image for a group exhibition based on a particular theme. The openings are always on the night of the full moon!

You're welcome to view the current show Spirit of nature at Ça décoiffe. If you need a haircut at the same time, Daniel is always happy to serve you.

Ça décoiffe is located at 4526 Papineau Avenue (map) next to La Tulipe. It's open Thursday (9:00-6:00), Friday (12:00-8:00), Saturday (9:00-4:00), Sunday (10:00-5:00) and Monday (9:00-6:00).

You're also welcome to attend the opening of the next show, whose theme will be Homeless people. The opening will be at Ça décoiffe on July 7, 2009 at 9:00 PM - under the full moon.