art

An Artist’s Life

When you are completely immersed in the day to day running of a publishing program you begin to lose sight of how much we need authors talent and experiences to be publishers. I had the luxury of two weeks off which always allows the many management bits to fall away so you can reflect on how much fun publishing really is. It is a business but one where you are always in contact with creative people.

When I was on holiday I visited Frances Gage, an accomplished Canadian sculptor and the subject of a new biography Unlikely Paradise: The Life of Frances Gage by Alan Butcher. Alan astutely knew when he met Frances some years ago that her life and works needed to be recorded. He had the foresight but also the talent to make this biography a reality. According to both Frances and Alan the process was a long one but ultimately led to a wonderful book.

I was honoured to be invited into her studio and have just a tiny glimpse of Frances the sculptor. A friend of Frances Loring and Florence Wylie she had an even greater connection with the Group of Seven and carved reliefs of both F.H. Varley and A.Y. Jackson while she worked and lived in Tom Thomson’s shack. An artist when women were not considered serious artists she fought many battles to be able to continue to pursue her art. Check out some of her work by clicking here.

Frances has a natural curiosity and drive that has not dissipated with time. She showed me her new electric scooter –not a Vespa but one you push along with your foot and then hop on! I wouldn’t try it but she loves it! She also showed me the two commissioned busts she is sculpting-this is a rich life.

There is currently a show of her work at the Northumberland Art Gallery in Cobourg; and if you would like to meet Frances in person there will be a launch for Unlikely Paradise and an 85^th birthday celebration for Frances at the gallery on August 22 at 2:00 p.m.

© 2009 Defining Canada.