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Archive for the ‘Community Events’ Category

Many thanks to all who participated in this very successful event to raise money for the Irish Heritage club’s support of organ transplants at Sixth Avenue Golf & Country Club in Lively. Special thanks to Reggie White and his team for all the work they put into this very worthy cause. It was really inspiring to see money donated to worthy recipients and also to hear Sudbury Councilor Russ Thompson relate the story of his successful kidney transplant. Thanks Russ. Big thanks also to Councilor Jacques Barbeau for his great support. I can’t begin to tell you how much he contributed to this event… and always does.

Have you signed your organ donor card? I have!
Does your family know your wishes? Mine does!

None of us is in a hurry to become organ donors, but we don’t know what tomorrow holds. And maybe, just maybe, someone will live on even if I don’t. Just as a note of information, I have a sister-in-law who is a double lung transplant recipient. She is having a tough time right now, but she has survived long enough (six years) to see one of her life’s goals achieved… living long enough to see her two children grow up.

To view a gallery of images from your fun day, please click here

Thanks so much for visiting. You can check out the other sections while your here, and I would be especially pleased if you visit my Fine Art gallery… it’s what I believe I do best… and I love doing it.
Garth

Well, George Vanier Public School is no more. The Demolition crew moved in this morning and by nightfall, the entire old school was nothing but twisted steel, concrete rubble, and broken glass.. I previously photographed and posted about the last “official” day of school at GVPS a year ago. Just as a side note, Mrs. Grace Murray, who was in the photos, passed away shortly after the images were made.

It was interesting and touching to see how many people actually parked along the side of the street, and some even with lawn chairs, paused to watch the passing of a bit of our history. I have recently been reading Frances Mayes Every Day in Tuscany . In it she talks of coming across ancient Roman ruins in her walks through the mountainous countryside. Well, future generations will have no such luck around here. When we demolish something, it’s DEMOLISHED! So in my own little way, I have tried to capture a bit of our history, as it existed… and as it exited. Many of you will have fond memories of GVPS, our own daughter included.

Garth

What can I say, Ulrich Sikora and Jeremy Mahood have hit another “home run” with this amazing production. If you think church is stuffy and boring and stiff and not fun, you haven’t been attending All Nations Church in Sudbury, Ontario. The gallery contains some of my favourites of the celebration as we were taken from a very traditional ’50’s style of funeral, complete with eulogies and stories of Jesus life, to a joyous celebration in word and song of our risen triumphant Jesus.

Happy Easter everyone.

Garth

The strike in Sudbury by Vale INCO Steelworkers has gone on for far too long. Everyone is impacted by it. In a show of solidarity, many churches from many denominations gathered at Tom Davies Square on March 30, 2010 for a day of intercessory prayer with the only goal being that of ending the strike.

The 2010 Winter Olympics are history… or so some might think. But for so many people, they are so very real and alive. Why? Because the Olympians are real live people who live in real communities and are bringing their memories and inspiration “back home” from the games to communities all across our beloved Canada. My community is Sudbury, Ontario! They put real faces to our television screen images. They are the difference between a live concert and some flat lifeless recording downloaded off the web.

I experienced this first hand yesterday when I had the great personal fortune to photograph Rebecca Johnston and Tessa Bonhomme. I had visited my optometrist’s office (Family Vision Centre) last Wednesday and there on the counter was a bouquet of flowers that looked identical to many I had seen being presented to the winning athletes over the course of the games. At first I thought they were a purchased decoration, but was assured they were “the real thing” (I guess I can use that phrase since Coac-Cola was an official sponsor Turns out Tessa’s mom, Debbie Bonhomme, works there. They told me Tessa was coming in Friday morning to share her medal with the staff, so I asked if I might come in and photograph the ocasion… sure, come on down!

Friday morning arrived. The office was electric with excitement and EVERYONE was wearing some combination of red and white, including the children who had taken a couple of hours off school to see and touch “the Gold”. I was expecting just Tessa, but in walked both Tessa and Rebecca, complete with their golden treasure and great big golden smiles to match. Everyone, regardless of their age, were as awestruck little children again. This was pure joy and it was made possible by these two lovely young ladies being will to share, to inspire and to give back to their community.

Thank You Ladies. You have made us proud to call ourselves Canadians!

Gallery from Family Vision Centre and the ReMax office just down the hall (same story, different people, same pride and joy).
ENJOY!

Dear Friends
This posting is not about me or my artwork. I have been trying to post a print a month, but this month I’d like you to go see, no, go buy, my good friend Cheryl Battistelli’s work. She is in the battle of her life fighting breast cancer. Read on!

One of Cheryl’s friends has set up an eBay site to sell her amazing art work to help raise funds for her medical expenses. We are cat people (my wife and I). We already own Zen… it is a beautiful piece of art and the first thing you see when you enter our home. I have pasted her email directly into the bottom of this post. Beyond financial support, Cheryl’s most pressing need is for your prayers. I spoke with her just before she left for treatment, and she said there was no better gift I could give her than my prayers… please add yours… and please share this link with your friends to get the word out.

Here’s a link to Cheryl’s personal website

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We need you!
Cheryl grew up in Montreal, went to PCHS, moved to Ottawa, attended Carleton Univ and married Univ of Ottawa alumni and former Captain of the Ottawa 67’s, Brent Battistelli.  They now reside with their 3 children, Alex, Christian and Danielle in Walden ON.

In 2009, Cheryl was suddenly struck with an aggressive form of breast cancer.  She is fighting for her life with grace and courage, but she needs your help..  The types of treatment Cheryl strongly believes in are not covered by our medical program in Canada.  So, the auction of these beautiful works, which Cheryl has put her heart and soul into, will help to raise the much-needed funds to help pay for her treatment which is very costly.

Please show your support by buying her affordable (prices below), award winning prints…you will be buying beautiful work and helping so much by giving us hope.

About the artist:
Between 2001 and 2009, Cheryl’s work has several times been selected to be part of the Ducks Unlimited Canada National Art Print Portfolio, chosen from several hundred submissions nationwide. She has also used her artistic abilities to support organizations such as President’s Choice Children’s Charity. Her work has five times been selected as a finalist in The Artists’ Magazine international art competition, and was featured in their 2002 calendar. She is a signature member of the Pastel Society of Canada, and exhibits annually at the Buckhorn Wildlife Art Festival in Buckhorn, Ontario, Canada.

Cheryl has studied with renowned Canadian artists Robert Bateman and Dwayne Harty, and currently works primarily in pastels on archival sandpaper. Her paintings can be found in collections across Canada, the United States and Europe..
Please go to our EBay site and purchase one or more of Cheryl’s beautiful prints.  They make excellent gifts.  Also, please forward this email to all your contacts and spread the word.

Prices range from $49 – $117 each professional print. Shipping extra.

Please buy Cheryl’s artwork online at this Ebay link to assist in funding her treatment.

Just had the great pleasure of photographing the official opening of the show Ivan Wheale – An Artist’s Journey at the Art Gallery of Sudbury.

Jean & Ivan with Alan MacNevin, Councillor and Deputy Mayor for North-Eastern Manitoulin & The Islands

I have been volunteering with the gallery for just over a year now, so I have seen several openings, but this was by far the best attended I have yet to witness. The place was packed, and I do mean packed! Although Ivan and Jean have lived on Manitoulin Island for many years now, they still have so many close friends in Sudbury where Ivan started his painting career fifty years ago, so he and I share an anniversary together this 2010, as this year also marks fifty years since I picked up my first camera. Meeting and photographing Ivan and his wife Jean was a special pleasure for me as I have long admired his art. Although we use different mediums to record the world around us, we seem to be looking through the same lens. It is as though we are drawn (pardon my pun) by the same spirit.  Along with all the friends and fans, there were several dignitaries in attendance to make their special presentations: John Rodriguez, Mayor of the City of Greater Sudbury presenting on behalf of MPP Rick Bartolucci; Carol Hughes, MP Manitoulin, Algoma and Kapuskasing; and Alan MacNevin, Deputy Mayor and /Councilor for North-Eastern Manitoulin and the Islands. This is the gallery link. Please read the note concerning registration prior to entering the gallery.

Jean, Krysta Telenko (AGS Curator) Ivan, Karen Tait-Peacock (AGS Director) with floral tribute from the Perivale Gallery

Figuring it out… with a little help from my friends and the online help desk.

The Anderson Farm Tree Lighting for 2009 is finally up and working. Sorry for my non-geek status… but then again, I hope I make up for the shortfall in one area with my ability to “get the picture”. Enjoy.  As they say… click here

Dan Xilon receiving his Paul Harris Fellow award

Dan Xilon, although not a Rotarian, was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of Sudbury. Making the presentation to Dan is Sudbury district president Michal Vezina. The presentation was made at the Art of Dessert, a fundraiser organized by Dan and the Sudbury Food Bank staff to raise funds for that organization. Dan has a strong commitment to his calling and for this he was nominated as a Fellow. Well done… well deserved… congratulations Dan!

The Art of Dessert, hosted by Sudbury Fine Cars, is the kick-off for the annual sale of Christmas cards which feature the work of local artists and are sponsored by various businesses in the Sudbury area. I was very pleased to be one of the chosen artists and to have my art, entitled Redpoll Trio,  sponsored by Xstrata Nickel. Besides being featured on a chosen card, the artist’s donated work is part of the silent auction of wine, spirits and art that also raises funds during the evening. Les and Lise Wither were the proud winners of a fierce auction battle for Redpoll Trio. Lise is Dan’s “right hand woman” at the Food Bank. (psst… I’ll let you in on a little secret… Redpoll Trio is going to be my very first “Print of the Month” special in December, so if you like a bargain, be sure to check back here December 1, 2009  for details.)

Les & Lise Wither with their hard won auction trophy

I’ll be posting more pics of the evening, but I wanted this post to centre mostly on Dan’s award.