Many of you will know Ms. MacDonald who was the head of Moderns at LDSS for many years. After our post the other day she reached out with her own Quebec A.Y. Jackson story. The painting she mentions was one of Jackson’s earlier works—much earlier than the painting of the Sugar Shack from St. Aubert. But she has agreed to let me share her message so I will let her tell the story. Tim is Ms. MacDonalds husband and their family farm is in Cowansville Quebec. Morning, Diane! I just read your cool post about the Group of Seven and the cabane à sucre. I thought you might be interested in Tim’s family’s connection to A.Y. Jackson.
A number of years ago, there was a documentary called “The Painted Land.” I imagine you and Ray have seen it. In the opening sequences, they show a photo of Jackson with “Edge of the Maple Woods.” Here is the email that we wrote to the producers of the film after we saw it: We've recently discovered your wonderful documentary about the Group of Seven. You have brilliantly captured the places depicted in these marvellous paintings and told their story with passion. We thought it might interest you to know that A.Y. Jackson's Edge of the Maple Wood was based on the sugar house on my grandparents' farm in the Eastern Townships in Quebec. As I understand the story, Mr. Jackson visited the farm several years before the painting was produced and made some sketches. Years later, he returned with a small original of the painting which he gave to my grandmother but which has unfortunately been lost. The farm is still in the family, so if you should ever plan to make a sequel to your original film, I thought it might interest you to know the story. I'm attaching a picture, taken a few years ago, of the sugar house and forest these days.
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