Art

Kingston’s Wars

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Laura

This painting is of Cathcart Redoubt which is one of the four large Martello Towers that were built along the shores of Kingston in response to the Oregon Boundary Dispute.  There are also two smaller ones.  All are still standing.

The perspective of the image: from Fort Henry using a telescopic lens, so that you can easily see the tower on Cedar Island as well as Wolfe Island in the background.

One does not see Dead Man’s Bay in this painting but it should be noted that during the building of this particular tower, 17 men perished when their boat capsized there.   These men were trying to return home after a day of work; sadly, this is how this bay got its name.

These towers were pretty much obsolete by the time they were built and fortunately were never needed to be used militarily.

With the towering windmills behind the tower in this painting, the name Kingston’s Wars seemed to me to be appropriate.  Kingston has new really seen any war but for any of you who are not local and reading this, the construction of these wind turbines caused many hard feelings and disagreement between neighbours.  Now with them present, land values in question and still feelings running high, one wonders if the healing of this generation of islanders, will happen.

I truly hope that it will.

8×10

Categories: Art, Kingston, Laura Moreland, Original Art work of Laura Moreland, Tiny House Ontario, Wind Farm, Windmill painting, Wolfe Island | Leave a comment

Last Days Hamilton

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Laura

I am getting geared down for my summer at the Tiny House.  I expect to arrive there some time this weekend get my bike going and enjoy the warm weather months in the peace of Tiny House Ontario.

Before I go there is a lot of stuff to do here.  Today I am going to a little Arts and Crafters show and sale in Dundas, Ontario which is being held at the Community Centre at King and Market Streets from 10-4.  It is being held by the Lion’s Hall and the Westover Artists Group who have invited me to join them.  This group meets once a week, I understand, and paints.  I am considering it, but won’t decide until I have met them and also have returned from my stay at Tiny House Ontario in the fall.  To be honest, I am not sure it would work… it seems to me that packing up materials and work with others might not really be my thing.  It is a funny thing because while I long for human connection, I also find that I feel so awkward and unlikable when I am with others that I don’t want to go through the awkward stuff.  It is stranger still too, because I think that people always find me to be social, loud, and confident, which tells me that either I am a very good faker, or perhaps I have some sort of social anxiety disorder?  I don’t know if one is better than the other, but just that this is what it is.  Awkward, uncomfortable, lonely too.  Sigh….

Obviously, that little aside had nothing to do with what there is to do in order to prepare for my months at Tiny House Ontario, but this is not terribly exciting stuff – packing personal belongings, toiletries, tools, dogs and dog stuff, water jugs, paintings for the show and sale at Hatter’s Bay and so on.  It has been impossible to prepare because I am dog sitting a rather rambunctious young one who was recently adopted by a friend of mine.  He is not trained at all and has (w)reeked havoc on every aspect of my life for the past two weeks.  Still he gets picked up tomorrow, so life will resume with its normal amount of chaos shortly.

So, with today planned and tomorrow a pick up and pack up day, I guess what I am saying is that the next posts will come from my off grid experiences this summer when I am able to access a signal.  Sunday – maybe Monday… will be my first visit back here.

Until then try and find one way over this holiday weekend to live life in a Tiny House kind of way.  Even if it is something small like not buying that object that you think you need – just so that you can throw it away later.  If you are going to buy something make it something like a wonderful local food to sustain you, or a piece of local art (or your own art supplies) to brighten up your life.

I hope this weekend will be a pleasure-fest!

I leave you with this beautiful art work which I found here.

Categories: Art, Simple living, Stuff, Tiny House Ontario, Writing | Leave a comment

Battersea Beautiful at Loughborough Lake Ontario

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Laura

I  have been pretty fortunate in my life to have had the opportunities that I have had.  Travel being one of the privileges I have enjoyed.  For me, there are places that are just so breathtaking and unique that they stay with you forever.  I have not been around the world but I have seen many places.  Few are as enchanting as Battersea, Ontario.

Right where the Canadian Shield meets the South, water, rocks, inlets, trees, sky, and marsh, are beyond beautiful.  It seems shady everywhere there, except at the store’s parking.  It is funny how mostly we don’t notice this when we come from the area, and only remember when we leave.

This, my friends, I am going to share, is the best place in the world to sit and have an ice-cream cone, or a Popsicle (for my Vegan friends).  The cars drive slowly past, the boats make their way into this little harbour to go to the store or the local hang out for a beer or something.  I don’t know why exactly, but it is just a place that you want to sit at and breathe for a bit.

I think that Erazim Kohák might say that this is a place that holds it’s history and when you are there, you can almost feel the lives of those that have been there before you, sitting right there, eating an ice-cream.

I hope that I have done it some small justice.  8×10

Categories: Art, Erazim Kohák, Kingston, Laura Moreland, Ontario, Original Art work of Laura Moreland, Simple living, Time | Leave a comment

Spring Cattails and Turbines

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Laura

8×10

Another one from an early and lovely spring day on Wolfe Island.  This photo, and I believe my painting as well, capture better than a lot of images just how HUGE these turbines are on the landscape.  The large farm is sitting close to the base of the (closest turbine) and it is simply dwarfed compared to it.

I am still not sure if I love or hate these giants, but one thing I can say about them is that they have forever changed the view and I like to paint them.  OK… that was two things…

Categories: Art, Kingston, Laura Moreland, Ontario, Original Art work of Laura Moreland, Tiny House Ontario, Windmill painting, Wolfe Island | Leave a comment

Hatter’s Bay Country Market

Posted on April 3, 2012 by Laura

658 King Street West

Kingston Ontario

In keeping with my own beliefs I could not be more thrilled to announce that Hatter’s Bay Country Market has accepted and will display (for sale) my Wolfe Island Series of paintings.

Hatter’s Bay is a local store.  What I mean by this is that it carries local products.  Wonderful candles from a local bee keeper, maple from a local farm, wonderful hand made dog biscuits, made from local products, locally produced and sourced food and of course, local artists work.

It is a gorgeous and unique business where you can stop by as a tourist just to look around, but I am sure that you will find more than one thing that you will want to pick up for dinner.  I also suggest that you pick up a lemon tart which is a fantastic combination of shortbread and lemon.  To die for!

The store is in beautiful and historic Portsmouth Village (now a part of Kingston).  The setting for the Convict Lover which is the story that was written when the writer Merilyn Simonds purchased a home in the village and found a series of letters written by a convict from Kingston Penitentiary and a young girl who grew up in the home many years ago.  If you have not read this, I suggest that you get a copy.  It is an amazingly well researched historical fiction.

I hope you will all pop by Hatter’s Bay and don’t forget to bring your appetite not just for art, but for wonderful local food!  Your dog wants a treat too!  I know I am right, because dogs love Laurie’s dog treats!

DATE OF INSTALLATION: To be announced

Map (Hatter’s Bay is the lucky 7)

Categories: Art, Tiny House Ontario, Windmill painting, Wolfe Island | 6 Comments