Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the Glengarry Artists’ Collective’s vernissage at the Glengarry Pioneer Museum. So I asked Yvonne Callaway, the Collective’s treasurer and “Window on Our World” coordinator to be my eyes and ears at the official opening of the nine-day exhibition that runs until July 29thand features the works of thirty-seven local artists.
Given the plethora of events competing for the public’s attention last Saturday… from Lancaster’s village-wide yard sale in the south to the Vankleek Hill’s Porchfest music event in the north… I was concerned about attendance. However, I’m told the launch went very well and enjoyed a steady stream of visitors. Yvonne reports that red dots (indicating the piece was sold) could be seen on a number of the works, including one by Dunvegan’s Sarah Jane Raymond. Yvonne also wrote that many of the guests commented favourably on the tremendous variety of styles and materials on display. And Jim Tilker from Dunvegan East was heard to say, “I enjoyed talking to so many artists. It’s even more rewarding when you can discover something about the creator of a piece of art on display.”
Organizers were also extremely pleased with the positive feedback they received on the layout of the exhibition. Collective member Flip Flockton has been involved, as a volunteer and exhibitor, in a number of past art shows at the museum. She told Yvonne that she was amazed how the Big Beaver schoolhouse had been transformed into a gallery. “The negative space of the shapes against the wall boards was artistry in its own right,” said Flip. I look forward to seeing the exhibition myself.
While I was in touch with Yvonne, I took the opportunity to pose a few quick questions about the Collective itself. The first inquiry concerned the cost of membership and what were the benefits of joining? It turns out that membership is $20 per year which entitles you to participate in the Collective’s art shows, attend professional development events and enjoy discounts from favoured suppliers.
As one of the Collective’s objectives is the installation of public murals throughout the Township, I wanted to know how they plan to deal with the concern that can sometimes accompany murals when the paint peels and they descend into entropy. I was pleased to learn that their murals are printed on a series of aluminum panels that are then coated with UV protection. As well, each panel can be reprinted and replaced if it sustains damage. On north-facing walls (i.e., minimal sun exposure), they expect their creations will last seven to ten years.
Start your engines!
As much as we wanted to attend the vernissage at the Dunvegan museum, Terry and I had resolved to attend the 4thannual “Country Challenge” invitational car rally. We had missed the three previous years and had heard that the rally was a real hoot.
Organized and hosted by Rosemary Chatterson and Allan J. MacDonald — of Dunvegan Recreation’sMusic & Mayhemfame — the low-key event turned out to be a fun way for a bunch of seniors to while away a summer afternoon motoring through the back roads of Glengarry, while we still have our licenses.
Before the rally began, names were drawn from a hat to make up teams consisting of a driver plus two or three “spotters.” Then as each car approached the departure line, the participants were each given a list of clues and associated questions that must be answered. However, the questions were in the form of rhyming riddles. For example: “A structure you’ll see for the kids at their play/How many can slide at one time if they may?” The cars left from the couple’s farm on the Fourth of Kenyon at five-minute intervals, and the fun ensued.
I asked Rosemary where she got the inspiration for the rally. However, she couldn’t remember. She did admit to organizing a number of them back in her Brantford and Cambridge days.
Rosemary says that putting the rally together gets easier every year. Before going out, she and Allan decide on the general area they will cover. Then they hit the road to look for clues. All in all, she figures it takes about three hours on the road and a little under two hours coming up with the rhyming clues and writing the instructions. “After that, I print the rally sheets, and make up the matrix I use to record the results. The rest is just the usual stuff of having a party for 20+ people.” Sounds as simple as falling off a log.
This year, the winning team “Two T’s and an S” (Stanley Fraser, Tish Humphries, Terry Sweitzer) got 18.5 points. They spent 64 minutes going a distance of 23 km. A perfect score would have been twenty-one…plus three bonus points. Distance and time is only used if there is a tie.
In actual fact, the teams were very evenly matched. The “Four Times Lucky” team had 17.5 points and the best distance of the five cars (22.5 km). “Eco Warriors” with 17.5 points had the best time of the five teams (47 minutes). “Road Runners” and “Carma’s Council” both racked up 17 points.
Rosemary and Allan are to be congratulated for putting together such a great event. However, I suspect they may have a bit of an ulterior motive. It could well be a way for Rosemary to stay in shape for writing those clever Music & Mayhemsongs.
Hawk Hill takes the prize
I’ve come to realize that “A Stitch in Time”, which took place a few weeks ago in Dunvegan, was really two events in one. To start, you had local fibre enthusiasts from the Twistle Guild of Glengarry, Highland Quilters Guild, Vankleek Hill Quilt Guild, Wild and Wooly Rug Hookers and the Swedish Weaving Guild of Glengarry promoting their respective crafts. And second, you had District 10 of the Ontario Sheep Farmers partnering with the Heritage Livestock Club of Eastern Ontario and the Canadian Cooperative Wool Growers to run a fleece competition and auction… believed to be the first of its kind in Eastern Ontario. The three partners from the sheep industry saw it as a perfect fit with the “crafts” side of the two-day event.
The fleece competition attracted 14 entries. These were divided into two classes: naturally-white and coloured fleeces. Nathan Pappas-Barabe of the Canadian Cooperative Wool Growers judged the fleeces and, according to Laurie Maus from Dunvegan’s Hawk Hill Farm, did a superlative job. “Not only did he take the time to carefully judge each fleece, but he also explained to the audience why he placed the fleeces as he did and answered all questions,” said Laurie. “It was fascinating watching him take several strands of wool from each fleece and strumming them next to his ear so he could hear fragile parts in the wool.”
The Canadian Cooperative Wool Growers not only supplied the judge, but also provided the prize money. In the Coloured Fleece category, first prize and Show Grand Champion went to Edith Caviezel from Silver Birch Farm… Karen Kauth from Karberry Farm took home second prize… and Silver Birch Farm’s Edith Caviezel also won third prize.
However, the real news is that some of the prize money stayed in Dunvegan. “You could have knocked me over with a feather when two of our fleeces won first and second prize respectively in the naturally white category… and more so when our first prize fleece took the reserve champion,” Laurie told me proudly. The third place prize for a naturally white fleece went to Yvonne Seeley from Sleepy Shepherd Farm. Congratulations to all the winners… but especially to Dunvegan’s own Laurie Maus and Bob Garner.
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