Members, tell us what you are up to. Send your upcoming event details to president@spiritofthehills.org. To become a member of Spirit of the Hills, contact memberships@spiritofthehills.org.
Growing Up Ivy, the latest novel from Spirit of the Hills writer Peggy Dymond Leavey, is available in bookstores everywhere and on line at Amazon.ca and Chapters/Indigo.ca. The YA historical novel, set in Toronto and rural Ontario during the 1930s, was published in June by Dundurn Press.
Quill & Quire, Canada's Magazine of Book News and Reviews, had this to say about Growing Up Ivy: “Ivy is a convincing character, strong though damaged, and depicted without sentimentality. The Depression-era setting is similarly convincing, crisp in its particulars.”
More details at Peggy's website at www.peggydymondleavey.com
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Photographer Leah Murray wrote in to day that some of her photos have been accepted by the ‘CLIC’ Eastern Ontario Photo Show, whose inaugural event is being hosted by the Prince Edward County Arts Council ( PECAC ) at Books and Company, 289 Main Street, Picton, Ontario.
The ‘CLIC’ Eastern Ontario Photo Show and Sale takes place from July 31 to August 8th at Books and Company, 289 Main Street, Picton. Many talented regional photographers will be represented -- come on out and see who's doing what these days!
Two of Patricia Calder's white stallion photographs were also accepted into the same show.
The show will be opening at 6:30 PM on Saturday July 31st at the exhibition space at Books and Company in Picton. The show/sale will take place from July 31 to Aug. 8. The exact address is: 289 Main St., Picton, ON. Drop in if you have a chance.
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Writer Diane Taylor announced that her article called Trouble Sleeping? was finally published recently in the Northumberland Today newspaper. Also, another piece, What's in a Word? has been accepted by Country Connection for publication in the 2011 spring summer edition. “It only comes out twice a year, but it pays!!!!”, added Diane.
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Shane Joseph has lots of news to share. He is the winner of the Best Novel Award in the Futuristic/Fantasy category for After the Flood at the 2010 Canadian Christian Writers Awards in June; his short story Uphill or Down was published in Abandoned Towers magazine edition #6 in the USA in July; and his other short story, The Star was published in Gathered Streams, a Canadian Authors Association - Toronto branch anthology, also in July.
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Speaking of awards, Eric Wright's Captives of Minara won best mystery/suspense novel in the Word Guild's recent contest as well as runner up for best contemporary novel.
Eric will have a book table for the sale of his books on July 31st at the Cobourg Farm Market, and on Aug 14th at the Port Hope Arts Festival.
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The Colborne Art Gallery is pleased to present From the Forest Floor, a ceramics exhibit by gallery (and Spirit of the Hills) member Terrie MacDonald. The show opens August 14 and runs until September 26, 2010.
A second show, Horizontals and Verticals, features paintings by gallery member Anne Wilson. Other new works by the other gallery artists are shown in the 2nd and 3rd galleries.
Opening reception Saturday August 14, 2010, 2 – 4 p.m.
The gallery is located at 51 King Street East. T: 905 355-1798. E: info@thecolborneartgallery.ca. W: www.thecolborneartgallery.
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Northumberland Hills Studio Tour - 2010
One of our members, photographer Tom Groot, will be participating for his second time in the exceptionally popular Northumberland Hills Studio Tour. This event, to be held on the weekend of September 11th & 12th, features artists of all disciplines from throughout Northumberland County. Given that Tom's "studio" is all of the outdoors, he has once again arranged for his work to be displayed at Scott's Barn Cultural Centre, a perfectly pastoral setting for images of nature and landscapes. Come for a view of lavender fields, rolling hills and Lake Ontario, and enjoy Tom's unique perspective on life in the Hills. For more information, please visit http://www.northumberlandstudiotour.com/groot.htm and http://www.scottsbarn.ca/studio-tour.htm.
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Jennifer Godin from Fleming College, Cobourg Campus is pleased to announce a brand new art course, Fine Art: Master Workshop in Oil, that runs from Monday, October 18th to Monday, November 22nd, 6:00 – 8:30 pm.
The arts course is offered by Brett Townsend; one of Canada’s favourite and foremost wildlife artists. Brett is most famous for his design that was chosen in 1996 to grace Canada’s new two-dollar coin. However, he is also well known as the youngest person ever to win the “Artist of the Year” Award from the Collectors Society at the 1989 Western and Wildlife Art Exhibition in Minneapolis Minnesota. He was named the featured artist at the Vancouver International Wildlife Art Show and a participant of the World Wildlife Fund’s “Spirit of the Wild” art auction and the Endangered Species Art Show at the Kortright Conservation Centre. He was also featured with just four other distinguished Canadian artists in a Canadian exhibition at the Suntory Museum on Osaka and Tokyo, Japan.
The “Master Workshop in Oil” course will introduce you to developing your skills in planning, under painting and oil painting technique in a high realism style. For beginner and intermediate artists, this course will be useful to those interested in pursuing painting as a hobby, or those wishing to increase their technical skills as professional artists. Fee: $90.60 (+ materials).
The course will be offered a second time in 2011 from Monday, Feb. 21st through to Monday, Mar. 28th. Same times: 6:00-8:30pm
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Did you know that our Spirit of the Hills web site lists up-to-date info on all arts courses offered by our members? Here’s the link: http://www.spiritofthehills.org/artcourses.html
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Darlene Claus and The Painted Tree will also be offering many new courses this fall in Cobourg. Here’s just a sample. The complete list can be found here.
Beth Hoselton-Watercolour
Avril Bull-Jones-Introductory Drawing
Lucy Manley-Landscapes
Paivi Marshall-Streetscenes
Sandy Goguen-Classical Art
Hi Sook Barker-Watercolour
Heather Roy-Mixed Media
Darlene Claus-Beginner Acrylics
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Speaking of fall courses… Gwynn Scheltma has just announced new fall workshops including one September entitled "Tasting The Page: Beyond the Five Senses". Note that Sprit of the Hills members receive a 30% discount. See info below.
The workshop will take place on Sunday, September 25th at The Dubliner Irish Pub in Whitby.
Writers and poets know that using specific sensory detail helps readers experience rather than observe the narrative world they are reading. Appealing to the primary senses – sight, sound, taste, touch and smell – is a basic tool in any writer’s toolkit.
Tasting the Page explores beyond those five senses. You’ll learn other descriptive techniques that can take your work in new directions. You’ll discover how to challenge your readers' perceptions and assumptions as you deepen textures and give greater weight to your narrative voice.
There are many more workshops. To register, visit the Writescape web site: www.writescape.ca
The Spirit of the Hills group is dedicated to promoting ALL creative art forms and traditions in Northumberland County, including the performing and visual arts, media, design and the literary arts.