Treasure

After my last visit with Mom, I mentioned she had given me some money from her inheritance from her own mother, which I decided to use to purchase original works by artists I admire. The artists were chosen long ago, when I could only dream. As of today I have made the two purchases.

Sona Mincoff is a Guelph artist whose luminous paintings evoke dreams and visions. She offered a private viewing of her work, so I went one evening to her one-room basement apartment where she had set the paintings and pastels along the walls and furniture. I chose Friends. The full moon offers a reminder that Mom departed on the night of a lunar eclipse. Unfortunately Sona had already sold my favourite of her works, Moon Temple, but I bought a print of that one.

Lorraine Roy is one of several Ontario quilt artists who have captured my imagination. Her work with trees particularly spoke to me. Saving Paradise was an exhibit she created 10 years ago in co-operation with The Arboretum at University of Guelph to raise awareness of rare tree species in Ontario's threatened Carolinian zone. Today Danny and I attended an art show in Toronto, where we met Lorraine and perused her most recent works. The one I selected was Burning Bush 8, which represents the landscape of the Niagara Escarpment I love so much (the photo only hints at its vibrant colour and dramatic atmosphere). Lorraine related excitedly that Canadian folk singer Sarah Harmer, who has championed conservation of the escarpment in her music and a documentary, had appeared the day before and purchased a quilt herself. I love Harmer's music, too, and appreciated the coincidence.

I'm sorry I couldn't obtain these in time to show Mom, but I'll keep this beauty in memory of her.