Upcoming Exhibition of Muskoka Heritage

 

"Everything But the Bathroom Sink", acrylic on canvas, 16x24, from a house before restoration in Gravenhurst 

Award of Excellence winner, Muskoka Arts and Crafts, 2010

Coming up on October 9th, 2010, the Auburn Gallery of Fine Art will be hosting a small exhibition of paintings, photographs and portraits by Helene Adamson, Michelle Basic Hendry and the late Henry Fry (via the Gravenhurst archives).

The exhibition called "Legacy" will feature the faces and places of historic Muskoka - from the homestead of the man to discover gold in Gravenhurst, to photos of the town mid 20th century and oil paintings of some of Gravenhurst's most well known industrialists from the 19th century.

If you find yourself in Muskoka for Thanksgiving weekend, please drop by for a little window into the history of Muskoka. The Auburn Gallery is at 190 Royal St. in Gravenhurst - the home of the late Henry Fry. See you there!

For more details and for Michelle's journey through Muskoka's history visit Michelle's website or the Artscapes Blog.

An Afternoon's Adventure

 

Deep in the Forest, 24x36, acrylic, © 2004 Michelle Basic Hendry

A few years ago, I was wandering down one of my favourite trails that is just down the street from my house here in Muskoka. It was one of those rare occasions when I left the camera at home and communed, uninterrupted, with Nature.

It proved to be an almost 'spiritual' experience. This was a few months before I started blogging and I e-mailed the story to a friend. A few days ago, I went looking for that story again and couldn't find it anywhere. I was lucky to discover that my friend had archived it and that I get to share it with you today:


I decided to go for a walk on one of my favourite trails, this afternoon. You know, the one they are going to pave over....  I normally don't see much more than a few birds or a distant deer along there lately - but today was extraordinary. 

Right off, my path seemed to be marked by crow feathers - tons of them. By the time I reached the hemlock grove, I could feel myself calming right down. An ATV had gone through very recently and mucked up the trail, but did leave some rather nice little 'ponds'. As a approached one - there was a series of splashes. I looked closer - FROGS! I hadn't seen any back there before! Gorgeous little dark green brown ones. 

Now I used to hunt and catch frogs as a child all the time - and I assure you, once they detect you, they go in the water and wait. I've sat for nearly an hour and gotten little more than motion. Today, this one little guy looked at me from the water. So, I looked quietly back at him. He jumped out right in front of me and sat there and stared at me until I got up to leave!

A few minutes later, I scared some deer and I watched their tails disappear into the bush. This was great because I can count on two hands the number of times I even see them here. But that wasn't going to be the last of it..... I sat under my favourite pine and got lost in thoughts - some about growth, some about spirituality and many more mundane. I must have sat for an hour based on the time when I got home.

On my way back, not two minutes from the pine, I thought about a detour. I was just making my way down the sand when - deer! The same ones, I think. Anyway, I froze, expecting them to scamper off. They froze instead. So I stood there and they watched me. A curious one in the front came up within 15 or 20 feet of where I was standing. Unfortunately, the wind was from behind me, so her nose was in there air and I am certain she would have come closer, otherwise. But she clearly saw me. I shifted, she cautiously watched - and then began munching away with her two friends, keeping an eye on me, but staying quite close!! Once they had wandered off a little and I could move without scaring them, I wandered away.

On the way back, I was passing through the exact same section of trail that I had passed the hour before. It was wide, with the trees quite far apart. I didn't have a chance to see it - much less was I expecting it - but I became entangled in a spider web - with no place to hold itself. Now where did this come from?? There were two spiders in it which became entangled with me. The first I found right away and gently swung it on its thread to a nearby branch. The other I found on my arm (I had raised my hands when my eye caught that I was about to walk into the web) and I brushed her off..... OK - I was a little freaked out - but they were small, so I coped! LOL!

As I was about to go along the last leg of the trail, a cacophony of crows burst from the forest floor just behind me and flew straight at me! Again, within 15 or 20 feet, they abruptly changed direction... I wonder if one was a raven? One voice was lower than the others. More crow feathers led me back home. At the edge of a trail, a small woodpecker landed just above my head on a tree and seemed totally oblivious of my presence. Half the time it was like I wasn't even there until the animals got very close. Closer than most experiences I have had, besides owls!

So there you have it....

Ice Goes Out

Ice Goes Out, 6x8 on canvas board (unframed)

SOLD

My ambition seems to have outweighed my available time, and I have been too overwhelmed to post weekly, so the mandate of this site is going to get a little flexible! I will be posting every second week - still on Saturdays. The latest news and what's on the 'big easel' is still at the Artscapes Musings Blog!

Everything else will be the same! Thanks for following and supporting my little project.

Early Spring Twilight

Early Spring Twilight, 5x7 on canvas board (unframed)

SOLD!

Winter Sunset

Winter Sunset, 5x7 on canvas board (unframed)

SOLD!

Field & Clouds

Field & Clouds, 6x8 on canvas board (unframed)

Summer Kitchen Door

Summer Kitchen Door, 5x7 on canvas board (unframed)

A Little Sky

Sky, 5x7 on canvas board (unframed)
SOLD!

The First Painting - Barn

Barn, 6x8 on canvas board (unframed)
SOLD