Hi everyone. On Father’s Day, June 16th, we set up our display at George Pegg Botanic Garden. It was the 7th annual “Art in the Garden Outdoor Show and Sale”. I have been registered in every one of them. What keeps me coming back? On the left, happy customers. Anna Churchill and her daughter show off the “spirit sticks” that they purchased from me. They were so proud and happy with their purchase that it made me feel good inside. The atmosphere of anticipation is everywhere! The vendors are setting up their tents and their displays. The musicians are hauling instruments to the stage area. Everyone is as busy as bees. Suddenly, it all slows down. Everyone takes a deep breath. “Time for a coffee” says my neighbor, a tall friendly lady by the name of Diana Krah. “Yeah! I’m ready for that too”, I say. We both saunter to the food area where the vendors are given a freshly made coffee and a tasty muffin. “No charge” says the fellow at the money booth. Great! |
It turns out to be a beautiful day. The sun is warm, the browsers and music lovers start meandering into the grounds. Everyone is friendly, happy. We have a little bit of time to wander off to other tents and check out who is here. Old friends and acquaintances meet and greet each other. New exhibitors introduce themselves. By then people start to show up. There are already many of them here, the band has started playing. Someone tells me that it is “jazz”! OK. Whatever, because I like it. The band is Joe Saumer Big Band and the sound is big too. They are from Onoway. I’m no expert, but I think I hear saxophones.
On the right, Betty Properzi shows Judy how to load up the wooden “elastic shooting gun”. Betty has hand-made wooden toys that she has been making since 2002. She has an amazing array of them and they are very well made. Heirloom pieces for those who purchase them! | Another amazing artist is David Hogg. This man carves in stone with hand tools...no machines, no electric sanders, just his chisels and other hand tools. The work on the left that he is showing to Jane Wakeford, is a penetrating, thought provoking image. He called it the “defenders” (if I remember correctly, forgive me if I don’t). They are the people who want to protect the environment. There are several faces coming through the alabaster stone. I remarked that some of them seem to be indigenous faces. Not surprising since the indigenous peoples seem to be the guardians of nature and of a way of life that is harmonious with nature. One face near the top of the sculpture seemed to be a skeleton’s head. “Yeah”, he remarked, “and that’s what happens if we don’t look after our environment!” |
It was a great day, it happens every year on Father’s Day. I encourage everyone to participate as much as possible in these fabulous summer festivals. An art walk is not always profitable for the vendors, but it is an experience we should all have at some point or another in our striving to become so called “artists”. And for those who enjoy coming out to see what is happening, welcome to our world for a few hours on a Sunday! We love to share with you.