Page 34 - Dreamscapes Magazine | Winter 2021-2022

A DAY OUT IN KLEINBURG, ONTARIO
Nestled in the Humber River Valley on a 98- hectare forest, you wouldn’t be wrong thinking that this setting sets the mood for a classic Group of Seven workspace. The McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg, Ontario is the leading venue for the Group of Seven collection and their con- temporaries.
Gallery Highlights
A.Y. Jackson’s Early Spring, Emileville, Quebec (1913): You can almost smell the spring air! Frank Johnston’s Vanishing Winter: Spring is on the way in this spring-thaw scene of a flowing river.
A CAPITAL EXHIBIT
Rising over the Ottawa River, a stone’s throw from the Parliament of Canada is the glass jewel box that houses the National Gallery of Canada. There are over 100 permanent artworks by the group on display.
Gallery Highlights
A.Y. Jackson’s Terre Sauvage (1913): See sporadic pine trees thriving and sur- viving on the rocky Canadian Shield.
Frederick H. Varley’s Stormy Weather, Georgian Bay (1921): One of Varley’s most famous works was painted after a summer spent at Georgian Bay.
BEYOND THE GALLERY WALLS
The McMichael’s connection to the group extends beyond the gallery walls. Robert and Signe McMichael started their collec- tion when they purchased Lawren S. Harris’ Montreal River (1920) and the exhibition space developed after purchasing some land near Kleinburg. On the grounds, six of the Group of Seven members are laid to rest at the McMichael’s cemetery.
AN ARTIST’S RESIDENCE
Also located on the McMichael gallery grounds is the studio shack of the late Tom Thomson. This renowned artist mysteriously drowned while on a canoe trip in Algonquin Park in 1917 prior to the group’s founding in 1920. While not an official member of the Group of Seven, Thomson is known for his influence within
the group. The McMichael Canadian Art Col- lection has deep ties to the artist with a Tom Thomson exhibition currently on display. A National Historic Site of Canada, the studio can be visited by venturing out on the McMichael’s hiking trails for a winter walk.
EXPLORE THOMSON’S ROOTS
Head to Owen Sound, Ontario and soak in the scenic vistas as you have made it to Tom Thomson country. The town located on the Georgian Bay Inlet is home to the Tom Thomson Gallery. See a rare collection of oil sketches, graphics, and other significant artifacts. Thomson grew up in nearby Leith in Grey County, which is mired in the type of landscapes he often depicted. Think cas- cading, plunging waterfalls and rugged, jagged cliffs. DS
LEFT: A.J. Casson (1898–1992), White Pine, c. 1957, oil on canvas. McMichael Canadian Art Collection. BELOW: The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is located in the village of Kleinburg, Ontario. The gallery is home to a rich collection of artwork by the Group of Seven. McMichael Canadian Art Collection
TRAVEL PLANNER
Art Gallery of Algoma artgalleryofalgoma.com
Art Gallery of Ontario ago.ca
McMichael Canadian Art Collection, A Like Vision: The Group of Seven at 100 exhibition runs until September 6, 2022. The Tom Thomson exhibition is open until spring 2022. mcmichael.com
Moments of Algoma Group of Seven driving tour momentsofalgoma.ca National Gallery of Canada gallery.ca
Tom Thomson Gallery owensound.ca/en/tomthomson.aspx
Tom Thomson Trail tomthomasontrail.wordpress.com/
Totem Pole Tour: britishcolumbia.com/plan-your-trip/regions-and-towns/ northern-bc-and-haida-gwaii/kitwanga
34 DREAMSCAPES WINTER 2021/2022