Grandidea: Travelling lightly

A Beginning

I always thought I would be an artist. But when I got to junior high school, choir and orchestra were scheduled for the same period as art. I never took it. I sang, played viola, ran track--by high school, I thought I would be a paleontologist, biologist, maybe a doctor. The only art class to fit my schedule was jewelry making.I stopped playing viola,trying to play guitar, sang madrigals, had begun writing. I concentrated on writing papers and pre-goth poetry. Went to Gustavus majored in science, changed my mind, science and education, changed my mind, art and writing, changed schools. Graduated with far too many credits from the University of Minnesota with Bachelor of Science, in Advertising and Design. Along the way I took some great life drawing classes, design courses and sculpture. Then worked as an advertising copywriter on a typewriter! Later worked in PR and communications. Moved to Venezuela, wrote for local economics and business press. Moved to Canada, worked in advertising, then marketing, then in fundraising. Got married to a handsome Canadian, had three beautiful babies and started painting.

I finally remembered painting was what I always wanted to do.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Travelling lightly

Having returned, I'm no longer completely airborne. Landed to the messy kitchen and empty refrigerator, car rides and logistics...but oh, what a week of freedom!
Barb and I had decided to return to Grand Manan to paint again with Barry Coombs, and had recruited our friend Donna to come. Donna brought Randa. We added a few days off the top to see a bit more of the New Brunswick, and to visit the Beaverbrook Museum in Frederickton. First off Frederickton is charming. We stayed in "The Best Victorian B & B", just minutes walking to the quaint downtown. (it was inviting, and with a pool!) On one of our strolls we came across this gorgeous Victorian with what I'm sure can be called a "cat walk."
The Beaverbrook is a gem, like you're visiting a rich friend's parlor with some exceptional art. Wildly eclectic, the collections being shown included some of the disputed works (Turner, Freud...) and a new exhibition on New Brunswick architecture through history--which included the summer home of friends of my husband's and mine!
Rolling hills and river flats brought us to Gagetown Village, some art and old stuff stores, and a charming historical museum. Homeport B & B in St. John was the best thing about that town, though Barb and I had a very nice dinner at Billy's downtown. (I'm sure there are things to do in St. John, but on a Saturday night we didn't find much except a cruise ship and some Jamaican music.) Then on to Black's Harbour and Grand Manan.