July 1 to 31, 2009
Northern Images: New Art from Northern Ontario is based on the works of artists whose activity is related to the Blueberry Festival and the culture of the North. The art work in this exhibition is contemporary in the sense that it plays off broad international issues, namely the environment although it is full of “Northern Images” that one associates with summer time in the North.
The Blueberry has been an importance part of Northern culture since before colonial times. Native American culture tell stories about the “star berries” having been sent to man by the ‘Great Spirit”. The blueberry holds a number of important properties that have come to be accepted by the mainstream in recent times. Blueberries are high in Anti-oxidants and Native Americans have been making teas from their leaves and using the juices from the fruit to treat common ailments such as coughs for centuries. The blueberry also has many other uses such as dyes for fibres and as an essential ingredient in many recipes.
Artists on Elgin is putting on a display of art pieces that relate to this theme. In celebration of the blueberry, pieces included are pottery such as bowls, cups and plates by Muiriel MacLoed and Maggie Nardi, Paintings and Cards by Ellen Gorecki and Stained Glass by Gary Moratz.
The Blueberry is also an important symbol in Sudbury’s development. Despite the damage that has been done to the city’s environment beginning with the logging industry and then mining, the blueberry has continued to thrive and hence has embedded itself as one of the most commonly identifiable northern images.
The exhibition also shows numerous works in the mediums of photography, painting, and textile art. These works focus on Northern culture and geographic elements that reflect life in Northern Ontario and explore the northern experience from each artist’s individual perspective.