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We found it. We painted it. We loved it. “It” is
nature, and few places are as unspoiled.
e began our journey just outside Toronto by visiting swept trees against Ontario’s ever-present lakes, or monu-
the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in the for- mental landscapes where light becomes a spiritual beacon, or
Wmer home of Robert and Signe McMichael, who were mountain scenes that reveal vast, rugged wilderness. Their
avid collectors of works by the Group art was revolutionary at the time and
of Seven. many say it contributed to the Canadi-
an identity.
The Group of Seven -- Lawren Har-
ris, J.E.H. MacDonald, Arthur Lismer, It certainly inspired us, a group of six
Frederick Varley, Frank Johnston, dear friends from all over the Unit-
Franklin Johnston, Franklin Carmi- ed States who were traveling to the
chael and A.Y. Jackson -- were original- Temagami region of Ontario to take
ly influenced by Tom Thomson whose part in a watercolor workshop led
artwork celebrated the pristine nature by Caryn Colman of Smoothwater of
of Ontario’s wilderness. Temagami.
Thomson’s untimely death in 1917, We were simply astounded to learn that
still a national mystery, prodded the Ontario boasts more than 250,000
artists to join together; their first lakes -- one-third of this inland prov-
Group of Seven exhibition was in 1920. ince is freshwater.
“In Thomson’s artwork, the land is the Temagami is one of the province’s most
thing,” noted Stephen Weir, who led beloved wilderness areas. Lake Temag-
us on a tour of the McMichael galleries. ami, the biggest lake in the region, has
“He captures the spirit of the north; a more than 1,200 islands.
Canadianness no one had done before.”
Thomson and the Group of Seven are It is said that Canada’s famed conser-
still Canada’s most famous artists. vationist of the 1920s, Grey Owl, be-
Their gorgeous canvases depict wind- gan his odyssey in Temagami when he
54 Wine Dine & Travel Summer 2014

