Northern_arts

Jeff Green | Jul 30, 2009

Diana Hall of Roblin purchases an original work by up and coming artist A. J. VanDrie at the Bon Echo art Exhibition and Sale at Bon Echo Park, 

It was a feast for the eyes this last weekend for art and craft enthusiasts living or traveling the northern back roads. Three major art events demonstrated the fact that the art scene is not just thriving in the northern regions but is in fact growing.

AMBIENT WOODS: At Clar-Mill Hall in Plevna, the Ambient Woods Creative Collective, just formed in March, held their inaugural group show. Members of the collective and guest artists working in a wide range of mediums displayed their wares, which included quilts, knitted sweaters, paintings, jewelry, pillows, bags, candles and organic body products. Much of the art work on display was inspired by the landscape and wildlife that these artists live side by side with all year long.

Plevna painter Gabriela Klessen’s acrylic works of ravens, roosters and chickens were vibrant and filled with energy and skillfully executed.

Darlene George and her leather creations at the Ambient Woods Creative Collective show in Plevna

Darlene George’s Manidoka Creations included a wide range of native leather crafts and her one-of-a-kind hand-made deerskin vests, each laden with fringe and delicate feathers. Also of interest were her father’s inlaid wooden bolos, western neck gear for the guys.

Organizers and members of the collective were thrilled with the turnout for their first show and are in the process of planning an even larger summer sale and community festival to be held next summer. Member Annemarie Schonauer explained “We’re really trying to get people out to the North, and thankfully, it seems to be working.” Anyone still interested in joining the collective can call Marlene Leeson at 613-479-0297.

BON ECHO: A short drive east and north up Highway 41, the 14th annual Bon Echo Art Exhibition and Sale was in full swing on the second of its three days and attracted a loyal following of both art buyers and sellers. Nestled in the towering pines of Bon Echo Park, the show is renowned for its gorgeous wilderness setting, free live music, yearly canoe raffle and for the high quality and variety of the art, much of it wilderness-themed.

Robin Deruchie of Wolf Creek Carvings in Cloyne displayed a wide selection of wooden animals that he sculpts with a chain saw. Many commissioned pieces have resulted from his exposure here.

Janice Moorhead, a glass artist from Quebec, is also a regular here. Her one-of-a-kind whimsical works are created from pieces of layered glass. Wilderness themes loom large and in one piece a lone canoeist paddles beside a towering rock cliff resembling the Mazinaw Rock just yonder.

New to Bon Echo this year was A.J. VanDrie from Codrington, a 23-year-old graduate of the Haliburton School of Fine Arts who has been painting ever since he can remember. Adopted at birth, the recent loss of his Chippewa birth parents drew him to explore his identity in the spirituality of Aboriginal art. A.J. explained his recent pictures: “When my birth parents passed away I started looking at the work of native artists and visited native art galleries and started seeing things in a more spiritual sense. I was looking for identity as part of the grieving process.”

His current work is reminiscent of paintings by Norval Morrisseau in colour and design and he said, “The strong colours represent the strong emotions that I felt then and still feel now about my birth parents’ passings.”

The Group of Seven painters were also an influence and by combining the two distinctive styles, A.J. tries to “honour both his biological heritage and the European Anglo-Scottish heritage” that he was adopted into.

ARDEN GARDEN PARTY: Back down the 41 highway and east to Arden, the 2nd annual Arden Garden party was wrapping up. In an effort to attract more visitors north, it grew in size this year and included a display by the local historical society, a free concert of Old Canadian songs and free draws to those who came clad in a fancy garden hat.

Arden resident and painter Judith Versavel hosted nine artists at her Gallery by the Bay studio. A graphic designer by trade, she drafts her watercolours meticulously and precisely. She also sells a line of one-of-a-kind-jewelry. She is the newest member of the Arden Artistans, which include batik artist Sarah Hale and local potter Joanne Pickett.

My final stop was at Joanne Pickett’s home, studio and storefront. Joanne has been potting for decades now and her functional production pottery demonstrates her solid design sense and throwing skills.

Party guests at her studio included Sharbot Lake artist Carol Pepper, whose most recent works are inspired by the vegetables she is growing in her garden. These new works incorporate images of various vegetables accompanied by text. Carol explained her intention of “drawing attention to the fact that many of the foods that we eat on a regular basis are genetically modified."

There was definitely something for everyone on Saturday, a testament to the fact that the arts community in the northern regions is continuing to come into its own.