I know we said we were done talking about the Group of Seven FOR NOW, but we received some really cool pictures in an email yesterday that we just have to share with you. Last week we stopped in Huntsville to catch up on laundry and a shower. While our dryer was tumbling we ran around trying to photograph as many of their community murals as we could find. They have over thirty murals and guess what they are? Yup—Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven! However, we were disappointed that there was one very special mural that that we couldn’t see because it is in a building closed due to the pandemic—The Summit Centre. In June of 2010 Muskoka hosted more than mosquitoes and black flies—they were the site of the G8 Summit. That’s a really big special meeting every four years where leaders, like presidents and prime ministers, from all over the world get together to talk about how they can make things better. Boy, I bet there was a crazy amount of security. The people in Huntsville thought it would be really cool if these important leaders would help paint one of their community murals. One of their area artists (Gerry Lantaigne) made sure a reproduction of Tom Thomson’s West Wind was completed except for the very bottom part. I’m not sure they even knew that it would absolutely happen. So, I can imagine how happy they were when these really busy people took the time to brush on the last bit of paint. I found a picture on the internet that shows Prime Minister Harper and President Obama getting ready to paint, but when I wrote to Amanda Hill, at the summit centre, she sent us the very best pictures. We have a picture of the plaque showing everyone who painted, the mural itself, and the brushes they used. Thank you so much...this is awesome! I think it is very special that they took a moment to recognize that Canadian art is important and some day I hope I will be able to go back and see this mural. Can you tell who each paint brush belongs to by the flags? You are Always in my Prayers. Love Mom.
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We enjoyed one last campfire before heading home. I thought it was still raining, but Ray pointed out it was just the ice melting from the trees. Yes, we did roast a few marshmallows for breakfast—why not? And when we noticed Kawartha Dairies in Huntsville was already opened at 10 a.m., we made a u-turn and gobbled up some early ice cream.
So, our Group of Seven adventure is done for now. I suspect we will be following in their footsteps again soon. We’ll close with a little chat about Lawren Harris as perhaps, like ours, his journey was a little less linear than the others. By 1967 Harris was excited by abstract painting. Those early shapes of Pic and the mountains where replaced by something I think looks like pizza gone crazy. Even the artist that designed Harris’ gravestone at the McMichael went for this shape! And that is where we will end our story—back at the McMichael where six members of The Group of Seven are buried (A. J. Casson, Lawren Harris, A. Y. Jackson, Frank Johnston, Arthur Lismer, and Frederick Varley). Loved our travel. But we all know—the best place is home. You are Always in my Prayers. Love Mom. The mist was still on the water as we headed off on our Canoe Lake adventure Friday morning. The electric canoe slid silently over the water as we imagined Tom Thomson’s mysterious drowning in July 1917.
Thomson spent a great deal of time in Algonquin (1912-1917)—especially Canoe Lake. When he wasn’t socializing at Mowat Lodge, or picking up guiding jobs, he had a special spot just a canoe ride away where he loved to tent and paint. Today a memorial cairn is erected at that spot. It was designed by J.E.H. MacDonald, who would later become one of the founding members of the Group of Seven. The cairn praises Thomson’s character and painting, and ends claiming the wilderness “...took him to itself at last “. Very touching. Thanks to our guide we were also able the find the spot where Thomson was originally buried before his remains were moved to Leith, Ontario. As soon as our canoe pulled up to the rocks we hopped off and were able to locate several of the foundations that remain of the Town of Mowat. The grave was a little more difficult and involved a few twist and turns, and muddy hiking shoes, as we headed up the hill. It is a simple white cross just outside the tiny formal fenced cemetery. If it weren’t for the fishing lure and the paintbrush, left by admirers, it would be easy to miss. By the time of Tom Thomson’s death he was an expert canoeist and a strong swimmer. It was a surprise to everyone when his empty canoe washed up on shore. There has always been speculation that there is more to the story, but for us the important part was that we were able to think again on the incredible works Thomson left us in his short career as an artist. Home tomorrow to warm up and dry out 😄 You are Always in my Prayers. Love Mom. Note: guided tour by Stuart from Algonquin Adventure Tours Currently, Ray is reading Tom Thomson: The Algonquin Years (Addison/Harwood). It is interesting to learn more about Tom as we hike through some of his favourite places. We are a few days late for the peak of autumn colours, but that is consistent with when Thomson painted too. He liked the late tamarack golds and the bare trees.
While in Algonquin, as well as painting, T.T. often worked as a guide to pay for his expenses. One of our books actually had a copy of his guiding licence for the year 1917– but let’s go back just one year. In 1916 guiding jobs were harder to come by due to the war; so Thomson took a job as a fire ranger. View from a Height was painted that fall. While hiking the Booth’s Rock Trail I tried to come as close as I could to mimicking that painting—how did I do? We managed to hike in between the rain today, but right now there are actually little streams of water running down our campsite. And so far only one moose sighting. You are Always in my Prayers. Love Mom. Credit: View from a Height photo is borrowed from the Friends of Algonquin Site |
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Ray & Diane HomewoodSharing the Blessing of Travel Archives
August 2022
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