‘Ogden: Then and Now’ in its various forms at the Vieux Forgeron (Ye Olde Blacksmith) Art Gallery
For those of us who live here, the forests of the Townships are an integral part of our lives. We only have to cover a short distance and somewhere along the way, we’ll see trees. And many of them.
‘Ogden: Then and Now’, the final exhibition of the summer at the Vieux Forgeron Art Gallery, 240a Dufferin St. in Stanstead, Quebec, accentuates this reality. (August 16 – Sept. 2, 2018) Taking old black and white photographs from private and archival collections, Ogden residents Tom Montgomery and Jeffrey Packard decided to take the same picture, from the same perspective, in the present day. The contrast is stunning. Continuous clear-cutting of old growth forests made the way for wide expanses of field where settlers could eke out a living agriculturally, but which was to have a devastating effect on land previously undisturbed for 1,000’s of years, where the Abenaki First Nation had been living a more harmonious and less intrusive life with the natural world. A panel about the history and culture of the Abenaki, ’12,000 Years of Native Presence’, by Paul Carignan reminds us of how life once was, knowledge and wisdom we’d do well to listen to more in this day and age.
Today, the forest is back. Though more managed, there has been a return of wild life both in diversity and numbers, as well as numerous other advantages (less soil erosion, removing carbon dioxide from the environment, etc.), but there is another concern. “Beneath the canopy it’s more complicated!” said Packard. ‘Ogden: Then and Now’ helps us to critique our way of life, and ultimately reminds us to be stewards of our precious environment now, and in the future.
It was after a good friend commissioned her to paint the inside of a piece of maple bark, Ogden resident Allyna Harris became so intrigued with the process that she continued to paint twenty-one more. ‘Enchanted Forest’, painting on bark and canvas, is a body of work drawn from her long-standing connection to the eco-systems around her rural home and her deep concern for the environment.
Contemplating the existing patterns in the cambium layer of the bark, the patterns became “…points of departure and the journey has followed tracings of bark beetles and organic vestiges from my own memories of wandering field and forest.” The forms which emerged asked to be expressed in colour. “I was fascinated to find that this exploration unveiled similar forms and colour combinations present in nature.”
‘Voices From Greece’ also continues at the gallery with the story, poetry, and painting by three artists currently living in Greece who had to leave their countries of origin (Syria and Cameroon) – Fatima Kriem, Majed Ebraheem, and René Jean Amba.
Please join us for a vernissage Saturday August 18th from 5-7 p.m. Cello virtuoso Erich Kory will be improvising music inspired by the exhibition, and Phil Desormeaux will be demonstrating once again, his blacksmithing skills for us. We hope to see you there! HOURS: Thurs-sun 11-6 pm www.levieuxforgeron.com
Facebook: Le Vieux Forgeron Art Gallery.