11 September 2013

The Artists' Trail

There is a path in our woods. We call it the Artists' Trail. 


Visiting artists and guests are invited to create a piece of art and leave it on the trail, and everyone is welcome to explore it.

It's hard to resist the call of a path cut through the trees.

Let me show you a few things along the trail. DUCK!


It's a bone mobile. Most people run into it.


We maintain the path, but let nature entangle itself with the artwork.


Wind and water take their toll on every piece in one way or another. This carving by Peter Paylor was a light golden colour when we installed it:


 Many have left their mark here.


And their bright ideas...


There are love letters...


Nests...


And a sculpture that you shake to make a wish...


If your wish *happens* to be finding a place to create a sculpture in nature, then you are in luck!

When you reach the end of the trail, there is a view so beautiful we can't show it to you here...


You'll just have to come and see it for yourself.

The public is welcome to explore our trails; just check in at the gallery so we know you're out there!

06 September 2013

Sweet, Sweet Summer

As our fourth summer at the farm draws to a close, here's a look back at what we've been up to over the last few months. It's been the best kind of whirlwind, full of art, guests, gardening and creative work of all sorts!

Find your happy place.
In June Milé completed his latest epic painting project, 33 on 33, which took him from one end of the County to the other, plein air painting this beautiful place. The paintings were exhibited at Blizzmax Gallery.


Meanwhile Krista was plotting her cardboard revolution and brought Cardboardia to Skeleton Park Arts Festival in Kingston.


July brought more residents from near and far.

Australian artist Della Jackson works on some paintings in the Art Barn.
In August, the Bicycle Music Festival rolled into town to perform a pedal-powered concert at the farm. Local musician D'Ari Lisle of Nine Mile wrapped up the concert with singing and playing guitar while pedaling to generate all the electricity needed to power his own amplification. Well done, D'Ari!


After the concert, we did a little 'silo session' recording with Jessica Moore, Abigail Lapell and Dana Sipos:


August also brought us a house full of puppeteers working on our program Shadow Puppetry Plays for Grown-Ups. It's always so great to have this crew here, they are such a fun and talented bunch.

Rick Zimmerman as Professor Murk in The History of Shadows
Guy Doucette and Kat Letwin as Him and Her in Almost
Cast and crew (L to R): Krista Dalby, Craig Morrison, Susanne Larner,
Brie Kaduc-Stojsic, Guy Doucette, Kat Letwin, Rick Zimmerman. 
We had many, many more guests and resident artists, including painters, puppeteers, musicians and playwrights. 
Paul Densmore does some early morning plein-air drawing near the silo.
Our last guests of the season were our dear friends Tamara and David, who enjoyed a mini-vacation camping out in the clearing. David Anderson is a long-time collaborator and co-conspirator, and was a great mentor to me during the four years I worked beside him at Clay & Paper Theatre. By special request, he played some music in our silo as part of our ongoing 'silo sessions.' I just love this song!


What a sweet end to a most memorable summer!