Looking back: an encouraging audience trend, a new cultural corridor, a gap in youth education

In the last two “seasons” of this column, I have completed 35 interviews with artists and crafters, writers, musicians and performers as well as entrepreneurs and cultural leaders in the Carleton County NB area. It’s been fun and invigorating.

Artists are rarely without strong opinions and creative ideas. The viewpoints that have jumped out at me through these interviews are, first, the strong local support and enthusiasm for the arts, then, the promise of cultural tourism and, lastly, the importance of appropriate arts education opportunities at all levels in our public school system.

Some of the players and some of the work that are making the upper St. John River Valley a cultural hot spot: clockwise from top left, artist Judith Saunders, watercolourist RoyTibbits, quilting by Kookie Sewell, glass art (detail) by Alice Sahagian, carver and basket weaver James Buxton, Victoria Hutt of the Andrew & Laura McCain Art Gallery, Peter McLaughlin of the Second Wind Music Centre, unfinished acrylic painting (detail) by artist Ann Kittredge, pen and ink with watercolour (detail) by Jean Haywood, artist Suzan Carsley. 

‘I paint events as they happen.’

Live event artist Sharon Ep1c

Sharon Ep1c painting a giant 6x9-foot canvas at the Dooryard Festival
in Woodstock NB. “I’d turn down huge festivals to do Dooryard,” she confides.
PHOTO © COURTNEY BLACK

‘I don’t usually take just one photo ─ I occupy the area.’

Photographer, poet John P Rairdon

For this scene near the downtown market in Woodstock NB, 57 images were combined to create a midnight panorama. “February is the longest month of the year,” says Mr Rairdon. “We trudge along in the darkness, clinging to any source of light to guide us into spring.”

‘I’d like to make a suit of armour someday.’

Chain maille jeweller Connie Wilkinson

“It’s the prep work that is most time consuming,” notes Ms Wilkinson.
Here, clockwise from left, she coils copper wire using an electric drill ─ once completed, a coil
like this will have consumed about two feet of wire; the coil is cut into individual circular pieces; each coil is then “knitted” to a specific pattern.

‘A chance to dream out loud.’

Peter McLaughlin at Second Wind Music Centre

Mr McLaughlin leading a choir concert that ended an
inaugural vocal workshop in September 2014.

‘It’s good for the community.’

Beth DeMerchant and Jaye Hargrove at the Bath Meeting House

Jaye Hargrove (left) and Beth DeMerchant point out some of the restoration
highlights of a Dolores Bohan folk-art mural, a detail of which is also pictured here,
which was rescued from a local school cafeteria. 

‘I tell it straight from the heart.’

Author, historian, environmentalist Ann Brennan

Ann Brennan making an appropriately costumed entrance
at her book launch in September 2014.

Photo courtesy Brigitte Marsden

‘We’re just a speck in the scheme of things.’

Artist-performer-activist Michele Kazakos

“I ♥ the Tar Sands” at Bath’s Gallery 262  was a multi-media installation by

Michele Kazakos that included pottery, animal skulls, bird feathers, iron work

and frames of reclaimed wood. At the “Evening Salon” reception in September 2014,

attendees chatted with the artist and performer, seemingly pleased

with the environmental statements put forth by her work.

‘My love of colour, and life, throws itself on the paper.’

Artist Suzan Carsley

Talking about this watercolour featuring Woodstock’s St. Gertrude’s church,
artist Suzan Carsley remarked that one of her next paintings will feature
three adjacent houses in that part of town that hold some fascination for her.
“I never grow tired of things around me here,” she notes.

‘Some people play cards. We sit and quilt.’

Kookie Sewell of the Woodstock Quilt Guild

Sewell and her quilting friends get together at her home a few times every week.

“Here I have the room and the equipment,” she comments. “I guess that’s why everyone

comes here.” Beverley Page, in the background, is a regular.

‘There’s nothing I wouldn’t try if I thought it might be fun.’

Artist-sculptor Phillip Harrington

At the McCain Art Gallery’s Chalk the Walk event at Florenceville last month, Harrington, in foreground, used his graffiti skills to “tag” his name. Look carefully< at his complex chalk art, which is nearing completion, and “PHILLIP” becomes evident.

‘The art scene here in the valley has exploded in just a few years.’

Gallery curator Victoria Hutt

Over the years since its founding in 1984, the McCain Gallery has attracted
many high-profile touring shows. Here, executive director Victoria Hutt talks about
“Maritime Folk Art”, from the collection of the Beaverbrook Art Gallery
which was shown in September 2014.

‘I was looking for people to play Renaissance dance music.’

Musician John Thompson

Thompson, here playing a unique double ocarina for visitor David Dolan,
says that “the adventure video game ‘Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’
has made this instrument newly popular.”

‘I like to make them and I like to get rid of them.’

Woodturner Dale Slipp

Slipp, at left, in his workshop turning the outside of a new bowl on the lathe.

Centre, from top, the bowl after the first turning then going to the second, inside phase.

At right, rough bowls take at least four months to dry in the “bowl bank”.

‘I’m weaving up a storm.’

Artist Henni Stanley

Mrs Stanley in her studio.
Looking back on her eclectic career in art, she says “the more I do, the easier it gets.”

‘Most everything I make could be used as a weapon.’

Blacksmith Shawn Taylor

Even a fairly simple piece like this poker at right requires multiple steps and lots of discipline.

The photo at left shows one of two forges that Taylor uses to get the iron red hot.

“Most blacksmiths use propane (like this one) but coal gives a hotter fire and it’s a lot quitter."

‘Most people don’t understand the difference between etchings and prints. And why should they?’

Artist Ann Kittredge

Kittredge in her Woodstock studio. 

“I’m feeling into paint these days, finishing some old work,” she says.

‘15 years later, there’s a lot going on. Shop, gallery, market.’

Sculptor-artist-cabinetmaker Kerry O’Toole

Having launched a sculpture competition in fall 2014 called 

“When Pigs Fly”, O’Toole can wax poetic about technique.

‘We’re destroying the earth at such a rate ─ I’m trying to draw attention to its beauty.’

Artist Judith Saunders

Seen here about to work on one of five large new paintings, each about 30 by 40 inches, Saunders explains that “it took me years to learn how to mix colour,” adding that “my early work was darker. I don’t know why.” 

‘I’m on a mission to bring more of the things I like to a place that I like.’

Musician and cultural force Amy Anderson

Amy Anderson, whose business card reads “wearer of many hats”, pauses in the piano room during a busy day at the Centre for Culture and Creativity in Grafton.

‘A show can be nerve-wracking, it’s so very personal.’

Lynn Billings

Lynn Billings, shown here with an acrylic painting of irises, 

has a knack for capturing the delicate beauty of flowers. 

‘This collection is truly remarkable.’

Tom Newell visits the Toy Soldiers Gallery

 at Connell House Museum