A Room Of My Own

Barbara recalls early affirmations of her paintings, in particular, her first award. She was in grade four and studying the Norseman. During art class at school, Barbara painted a depiction of the Norseman people, a woman and man she remembers it plain as day. The judges were quick to conclude that the painting was too good for the age group, but her teacher stepped in offering an award to Barbara - a quarter.  While attending BCIVS, she continued to take art classes. She recalls Miss Pallette, an excellent art teacher who would often take the class outside to paint. Barbara remembers the back entrance of the old Corby building catching her eye. She painted this historic building and the flowers that naturally sprawled across the long stone wall. This may be one of the earliest pieces in her collection where the subject matter is historic. In fact, when listening to Barbara describe her paintings, it is clear they are all historic in nature. Whether it be historic buildings, his...

Nan Sidler remembers a ‘charmed childhood‘, as she calls it. A simpler time when she could play outside all day, “exploring local woodlands for snakes or chipmunk holes, or wading wetlands looking for frogs.“ These were the days when you were free to explore all day, as long as you were home for supper. Growing up, she has an appreciation for her time living near the beautiful water and wild spaces of Ontario, reflecting fondly on Picton and the white sandy beach at the Sandbanks and living near the Ottawa River in Pembroke. She has always used her gift in drawing and painting as a way to engage with the world around her, a gift she says she shared with her grandfather, who worked beautifully in pen and ink. Her post secondary education took her to Peterborough where she met her husband at Trent University. They shared a love for the area with its rocks, trees and shining waters and decided to stay there to raise their two sons. The family became avid campers, hikers and canoeis...

Nothing brings this country to a momentary stand still like the death of one of our very own beloved authors. In early May this year, we came to a sudden halt. The nation respond ed immediately – it wa s announced on every radio station from coast to coast, on local and national news and in every newspaper , informing us of the loss of a most impassioned writer, ardent environmentalist and a true Canadian icon for sure. Farley Mowat dead at 92. The end of an era; a century really. And the nation mourns. O ne of Canada’s best known and best loved authors; Farley Mowat is recognized as a nature lover, world traveller and champion for those without a voice. The latter includes wildlife, the First Nation people s of the north, and of course the land . As CBC reports, the author spoke out on the radio show The Current less than a week before his death against a proposed plan to equip Canada’s National Parks with wifi, which he called “a disastrous, quite stupid, idi...

Canadians have a love and connection with the lakes like no other. It isn't even necessary to put it into words – we just know. Whether we are near, on or in the water, the feeling of purification and completeness is abound. Canadian artist and performer, Jane Eccles, truly captures Canadiana in her painting series known as ‘water’. One look at her images, and we know of childhood summers at the cottage, or that feeling when you first jumped into the lake, or the peace of sitting by the water’s edge on a hot summers day. Powerful images indeed. As Jane recalls “My roots are around water.” Born in the Ottawa valley, she spent a great deal of her early childhood close to the Rideau water system. Her family moved to North Bay near Trout Lake when she was about ten years old, and this started her relationship with the ‘dark navy lakes’ so well associated with the northern parts of this province. She also attributes this area with the ice and snow in all of her imagery. In ad...