The McMichael Canadian Art Collection, a gallery renowned for their Group of Seven paintings, requested Gary and Joanie McGuffin and art historian Michael Burtch to do a special presentation of “Painted Land: Behind the Scenes” on September 27th during Cultural Days.
This event is part of an annual nation-wide celebration of culture. The beautiful autumn day drew a full crowd of participants eager to see the presentation, participate in film’s companion digital media launch, and people of all ages joined in the spirited art battles. McGuffins and Burtch were enthusiastically introduced to a standing-room only audience by McMichael curator and educator Anna Stanisz who praised the trio’s research that underpins their film “Painted Land”. The Q & A was peppered with many humorous stories about the Group of Seven expeditions and filming in the wilderness. It also sparked a lively discussion about how the public could protect these heritage sites.
Joanie participated in one of the four “Art Battles”, an event hosted by Digital Howard. Each painter with easel, canvas, brush and acrylics raced against the clock to copy a particular Group of Seven painting displayed for all to see. Overall, the family-fun event was a resounding success.
If you would like to see more, visit the new interactive digital experience, www.paintedland.ca. This website is allows you to explore these real landscapes – photographed by Gary McGuffin and painted by the Group of Seven.
To find out more about the McGuffins Group of Seven quest and the documentary “Painted Land” go to our Group of Seven – Heritage Landscape page.
It’s been over 30 years! Meeting up with Rick Gibson, a fellow Seneca College student in 1980!
Beautiful day to be outdoors with fellow artists. Joanie competing in the friendly Art Battle at the McMichael Gallery during Cultural Days.
Joanie and Gary in the McMichaels Founders Lounge prior to Digital Howards official launch of paintedland.ca experience
Each of the four McMichael Art Battles asked participants to do their best rendition of a particular Group of Seven painting. This is Frank Carmichael’s October Gold
Following their Behind the Scenes Presentation for Painted Land, Gary, Joanie and Michael field questions from the McMichael audience about their research that informed the film and digital media project Painted Land
Karen Fediw wins a annual family membership to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection for her rendition of a Frank Carmichael painting
