Village Squire, 1974-06, Page 6hn easier Way of life, volunteered to donate
is time as a qualified architect and designer
to the project.
The whole proposal was so startling it
brought excitement to the whole town. The
Clinton Businessmen, who have had trouble
in the past finding a common policy,
immediately jumped at the idea of restoring
the town.
Suddenly, a man who many Chintonians
didn't even know existed, is the most
influential man in town.
When Duern left Electrohome, Kitchener,
in May, 1973, after 13 years as the company's
designs administrator, he exchanged what ne
modestly refers to as a "terrific" income for
the free, relaxing life of this truly rural
centre.
"We like it here.... people are different in a
small town... they are warm... more
friendly... the pace is very slow".
For Gordon, who early in his career worked
for Eaton's College St. Store, Toronto, as an
interior designer, decorating the 85 year old
two story Georgian -type house he had
acquired in 1972, on the corner of Rattenbury
and Gibbings Streets in Clinton was like
painting a picture of his life. The house is
filled with mementos of friends, souvenirs
•
from trips taken abroad with his wife,
drawings of favourite artists, furniture
designed by him, some of his own
paintings-plus:an accent of Spanish influence
in furniture and portraits, a taste probably
inherited from his Grandmother Duern, who
was a direct descendant of Spanish royality.
Most important of all is that the spacious
old home allowed for a studio not only for
himself, but for Ruth, who is a designer in her
own right. For while in the process of
unwinding this past year, the couple are in
the throes of building up a new business -to
include landscape painting and floral
designing.
"We wish to .make careers of our work",
says Gordon, explaining that they have the
patience and the time. One important factor
in their favour is that they are not financially
dependant on their new found business for a
living.
"Watercolours by G. Dern, Canadian
Artist, who has captured with his brush the
notalgia of the vanishing rural landscape in
.Ontario", is the calling card on what is a
distinguished "kind of Ontario" quality to
Cariadi 'n art.
The word "rural" has more than begun to
take on a new meaning -and so the timing was
right when Gordon started a year ago to
sketch such objects as old barns, forlorn
houses, abandoned churches.. in the
Southern Ontario region. "People liked them
• i1
's
4
Fashionable
COSTUME
JEWELRY
rtj
Red & White Ropes, Necks, Bracelet,
Earrings. Many other colours and styles
Gemini
Jewellers
Ruth Duern and one of the arrangements.
4, VILLAGE SQUIRE/MAY 1974