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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-10-16, Page 31Blyth-area artist Ron Walker is up next in this year’s lecture series at the Goderich Co-op Gallery, speaking on Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Walker will be sharing some large paintings, pieces from his most recent collection based on his travels through Spain and Portugal which was shown this April in London. Walker will also be showing some of the photographs he took and illustrations he drew while he was overseas to bring back to Huron County to begin his painting for his Iberian Images - Travels Through Spain And Portugal collection. Walker is a well-known educator and prize-winning artist who embarked on a pilgrimage, walking through Spain and Portugal with his brother-in-law Eugene. The collection consists of several pastel pieces, sepia pieces and some prints, each serving its purpose in the grand scheme of the collection, many of them landscapes, Walker’s specialty. With the colourful pastel pieces, Walker chose scenes during Holy Week in Spain, Semana Santa, where street processions take place every evening from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. The Semana Santa pieces are very bright and vibrant, and with such an important cultural event, all include large groups of people. Walker predominantly visualizes landscapes, so to call these pieces a slight deviation from previous work is fair. Walker first became interested in art in his 20s, after watching a film called Lust for Life. He attended art school in Saskatchewan for two years before attending the Vancouver School of Fine Art. Walker went on to teach visual arts in high schools in the greater Toronto area, and then eventually in Huron County. He spent 33 years teaching, a career, which he calls “wonderful.” Walker is also one of the founders of the Blyth Festival Art Gallery. While he is not involved in any official capacity now, he will often curate some of the exhibits. Walker’s works are frequently featured in the Huron County Museum’s annual art show and sale. His lecture will interest budding artists, travellers and would-be travellers and admission is by donation. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday to Saturday. For more information call 519-440- 0523 or visit the website at www.gcgallery.ca O’y ya’h ohdiwena goh: “Throughthe Voices of Beads.”The Iroquois originally adorned their animal-skin clothing with porcupine quill. When they began trading with Europeans, they transferred their skills to cloth and threaded beads. Yet they retained the same imagery that they had always used, imagery that represented their beliefs, values, and legends. Indeed, bead workers have played a vital role in preserving Iroquois beliefs over the centuries. One of the goals of this exhibition from the Royal Ontario Museum, is to reveal the meanings expressed in Iroquois beadwork, meanings that remain embedded in Iroquois culture to this day. A second goal is to show that this art, like the Iroquois people themselves, still thrives. The exhibition consists of about 20 pieces from ROM collections, both historical and contemporary, and about 10 works from the collection of Iroquois beadwork artist Samuel Thomas. Several of the latter, including two complete outfits, are unusual in that they were created in a collaborativeeffort by several teams of peopleacross Ontario, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, working under Thomas's guidance. Most of them had no previous experience in bead working. The intent of the project was to demonstrate that traditional Iroquois teachings can be of great value to the modern world. These teachings include love, compassion, a good mind and the ability to work together with others as one. The exhibition is on display at the Huron County Museum from Oct. 4 to Nov. 23. The Museum is open Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Regular admission rates apply. For more information contact the Museum at 519-524-2686 or at www.huroncounty.ca/museum. The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is an agency of the Government of Ontario. Created in 1912, Canada’s largest museum of natural history and world cultures has six million objects in its collections and galleries. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2008. PAGE 31.ROM exhibit atHuron Museum Ron Walker speaks at gallery Celebrating 5 Generations of Shaws Pearl Shaw celebrated 97 years of life October 4, 2008 and enjoyed a gathering of five generations of family. From left to right: Jim, Pearl holding great-great-granddaughter Peyton, great-granddaughter Dana and grandson Paul. We’re blessed to have you Grandma Pearl. Old Tyme Country Breakfast Sunday, October 19 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Londesborough Hall • Eggs • Bacon • Sausage • Pancakes and Homefries Adults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6.00 Children Under 12 . . . . . . . . . $3.00 Sponsored by Londesborough Lions Club Proceeds for Community Betterment Beadwork This men’s costume is one of approximately 20 pieces of the Through The Voices Of Beads collection the Royal Ontario Museum has sent Huron County’s way. The exhibit will be in Goderich until Nov. 23. (Photo contributed)