THE "NEW" GROUP OF SEVEN !

Seven professional Native Canadian Artists joined forces in order to fight for the inclusion of their work in the Canadian mainstream of contemporary art.
So, if you hear about 'Jackson Brady' 'Eddy Cobiness', Alex Janvier, Norval Morrisseau, Daphne Odjig, Carl Ray and Joseph Sanchez, pay close attention.

Daphne Odjig created one of the most beautiful Love Scenes 

I have ever seen.

Algonquin Park and the Group of Seven

I have known the work of “Tom Thompson and the Group of Seven” since shortly after I arrived in Canada.

In my innermost understanding I always admired their work but could not quite place it into “the natural surroundings”, into the world as I saw it.

Around 1960 I was urged by a friend, who also happened to be the Deputy Minister of what was then called: The "Department of Lands and Forests", to visit Ontario's largest Provincial Nature Preserve: “Algonquin Park”. He persisted in his urging and arranged that I should be met by the Park Superintendent,

a former bush pilot of Finish roots, Yorki Fisker.

My friend and Yorki decided to introduce me to Algonquin “the right way”.

They arranged for an Native of the Algonquin tribe to be my guide over a four day canoeing trip, which had it all.

Many lakes, connected by “portages”, or rivers, Islands in the Lakes, on which we pitched my tent.

The guide slept, wrapped into a heavy blanket on the ground in spite of my urgings to share the large enough tent with me.

The first morning, when early light showed over and through the trees, I went down to the shore to fetch some water for our morning tea.

Then it absolutely hit me: This is exactly what Tom Thompson, A.Y. Jackson, Franklin Carmichael, Arthur Lismer and the others of the Group of Seven saw and what they painted. They painted the Canadian North in all its stark beauty.

Yes, they simplified the trees surrounding the lakes, with simple strokes of their brush they showed us the Autumn red leaves of the Maple or the Sumach, they put before us the gold of the Birches, the shimmering water of the brook and the stillness of the lake.

They painted “Algonquin Park” in all the beauty in which I perceived it this first morning on the shores of a lake, whose name I no longer remember.

But I have never forgotten the feeling which rose in me, which almost closed my throat and brought tears to my unbelieving eyes.

Right then and there I fell in love with Algonquin Park, with Canada and last but not least with the “Group of Seven and Tom Thompson”

Bertstravels

still thinks that this is

one of the most beautiful corners of the world.

McMichaels Gallery

It is almost impossible for me to come to Toronto without driving the few miles to get to Kleinburg and the McMichaels Art Gallery.
It features almost exclusively Canadian Artists, beginning with "The Group of Seven", but also showing
modern Canadian artists particularly, but not exclusively Native Canadians.
At the moment there is an exhibit of a new "Group of Seven" consisting of Native Professional Artists
and are they ever beautiful.
Unfortunately, photography is not allowed in the New Group of Seven, and so I have to once more get some shots in a clandestine manner. ( I am almost ashamed... I said 'almost' )
For now we will have to be satisfied with the Original Group of Seven and Tom Thompson.

A.Y.Jackson 1882 - 1974

Lake Superior Country 1924

Franklin Carmichael  1890 - 1945

October Gold  1922

Tom Thomson  1877 - 1917

Dapple Thicket 1916

Lawren S. Harris  1885 - 1970

Pic Island  1923

Lawren S Harris

Arthur Lismer  1885 - 1969

Pine and Brook, Georgian Bay  1950

J.E.H. Mac Donald  1873 - 1932

Leaves in the Brook

Franklin Carmichael 1890 - 1945

Autumn Woods  1922

Tom Thompson 1877 - 1917

In Algonquin Park  1914

Tom Thompson

Burnt Island 1915

Tom Thompson

Autumn Woods  1915

Tom Thompson

Woodland Waterfall

Maybe there is a bit too much of the Group of Seven 
for the uninitiated ?
Well then, hurry up ! Become initiated !

Bertstravels thinks they are "the best"

Architecture - modern

Downtown Yonge Street and an architect was given free rain.
It's truly a matter of taste.
I like it !

One of many new buildings on Yonge street.

The cladding is most interesting.

50 Years: The Maple Leaf forever

Canada"s flag used to be the Union Jack, slightly modified.
In 1964 the then Prime Minister, Lester B. Pearson, decided that Canada needs its own distinctive Flag. 
A committee was formed and the public was asked to submit their ideas.
Literally thousands of entries showed the deep interest among the citizens regarding this issue.
Finally it came down to three submissions and one of them was chosen with a small change. 
The "Maple Leaf" made  its first public appearance in February of 1965.

From thousands of entries, these are the final three selections,

out of which came

the Maple Leaf as shown below.

Buskers

A 'Busker' is a person who performs on the streets or other public places for gratuities.
Busking may include a large variety of entertainments :
Acrobatics, Juggling, Magic, Fire eating, Sword swallowing, Balancing and many more entertaining activities.
Inevitably crowds gather, watch the performance and leave the artist a gratuity.

From Thursday, August 27 to Sunday, August 30 Toronto held the "Toronto International Busker Fest".
This year's line -up of street artists (over 170 performers and over 70 acts ) hail from across Canada, the USA, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Hungary, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Peru, Slovakia, Spain, The Netherlands, Poland and Thailand.

Last year's Busker Fest in Toronto was visited by over 1.5 Million spectators and promoters expect even more this year. The entire Festival stretches from College Street to Queens Street which effectively closes this part of Yonge Street. All along this route there are stands selling all kind of things, from "button sewing machines" to souvenirs,  to a variety of foods from different countries.
Visitors make a voluntary contribution at each entrance. All proceeds are to the benefit of Toronto's Epilepsy Organisation.

Bertstravels was one of this 1.5 Million and he took these pictures:

The Scotiabank is one of the sponsors 

and the Festival is in Support of  Epilepsy Toronto.

Toronto is 'cool'.

They just close off about 1.5 km 

of the most important downtown street,

invite the public under the motto: Let's have some fun, 

and do a good thing to boot.

Musical Groups and acrobats vie for the attention of the visitors.

On Dundas Square, huge advertising signs 

"decorate" the side of new buildings.

Slapstick humor and pulling faces

is always good for a laugh.

a very talented side walk painter.

and some more jugglers.

This is what it's all about !