Monday Inspiration: Hannah Maynard

Hannah Maynard, Self Portrait- Trick Photography, 1893 (source)

Hannah Maynard, Captain Jack, chief of the Rupert Indians with his wife, 1868-78 (source)

Hannah Hatherly Maynard, (1834-1918), was born in England then immigrated to Ontario where she learned photography. After that she and her husband (also a photographer), moved to Vancouver Island where she opened up a portrait studio. I suspect this woman had guts, seriously, she also had four kids, which makes her one of the only female artists I've profiled to actually have children and a husband.

The Maynards did Landscape photography, but Hannah also did these wonderful 'trick-photograph' self portraits- in which there are several 'Hannah Maynards' all serving tea to each other and looking at art etc. They are really spectacular. These photos wouldn't be out of place in a modern gallery except we'd all be talking about post-modern ideas of the self, and service and motherhood, and a woman's position, or possibly mental health, or spirituality or something,  but because they're old you just sort of have the sense that they're really about the technical aspects of the medium, about exploring what she could do in the darkroom. They're probably really about both.

I think what I like best about these photos is that it gives a sense of who she was. That is so rare- to see people from that long ago and find a sense of kinship with them- that it happens with these photographs, that you feel as though you could sit down to tea and have a chat with this lady and it wouldn't be totally alien, like you get a glimpse of her as a real person, is extraordinary.



Monday Inspiration 2014 is all about re-discovering Canadian Artists. After completing a bachelor of fine art from a Canadian University you would think that you'd be well versed in Canadian art- but actually -not so much. Ask me about renaissance, or abstract expressionism, and I'm well versed, but beyond the Group of Seven or Emily Carr I'm a bit lost when it comes to my own countrymen- (let alone country women!).

 I'm not really meaning to do all women- but so far that's pretty much been so- I figure that the male artists are pretty well represented so I'll try to highlight more female artists than men- though I'm not doing only women. If you can think of anyone else you think I should look at leave a note in the comments- I'd love to hear from you! 

Lately

These days are feeling too busy, To Do lists spiral out of control even as we chisel them down, expanding like some sort foam insulation, growing like fungus. We are swept away in our days. Children go feral, parents seethe with the need to be 'doing something', except when we are awash in nature, when everyone calms, sweaty heads, dirty feet and all, we stop to listen, and look, and notice.

And so I'm putting up these photos from the last week or so- later than I'd planned, and less organized- but still they're a record of sorts.

::Translucent sage leaves,
::Baby feet dancing in the dirt
::Whispery yarrow
::Inoculating logs with Shitake plugs and finding them a nice shady spot
::Asparagus finally providing meal after meal sweet juicy stalks
::A walk down below to see how things are growing,
::A dry old shitake from the old logs
::A bright summer dress, newly sewn.

Monday Inspiration: Ruth Salter Wainwright

Ruth Salter Wainwright, Hauling the Nets, (source)

Ruth Wainwright (1902-1984), lived in Nova Scotia and painted watercolour paintings- she studied at the Halifax ladies college, and spent the first part of her career painting in watercolours. Later she studied at Hans Hoffman's Provincetown school in New York and began to paint in abstract forms. These works seem lovely but the only image I can see of them is here at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, and it's not really a complete image either, it seems to me to be a cropped section of one of her paintings. 

I love the lines in her work though- the square jaws of the fishermen, and the transparency she's managed to hint at with the nets. The colours are lovely too.

This Moment

{this moment} ~ A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.- Amanda Blake Soule

Kids in the garden: It's a frog party

This time of year frogs are everywhere, N found this one as I was driving the 'gator around the corner, I heard super high pitched screams- which- as I got closer I could discern as "WHAT KIND OF FROG IS THAT?! WHAT KIND OF FROG IS THAT?!" Anyways, after we got over the shock of the find we christened him Croaky and captured him to take out to the garden, and show Dad, of course.

Frogs are great for your garden, they eat bugs, and not plants, and they're great babysitters in the garden as well, they'll keep the kids busy for hours with their jumpy escapee antics. One way to induce frogs to stay in your garden is to give them little habitats, with a shallow dish of water and some rocks to perch on.

Croaky is a Copes Grey Tree frog, we identified him using the Manitoba Herps Atlas which is a very cool site.  Here are some more tips about Frog friendly gardens. Most of those are around the yard anyhow- it's a bit of a frog paradise around here. Some of the most important things are ponds, brushpiles, and not using insecticides, mainly.

Here is our little frog dish- under the shelter of the Rhubarb leaves, in Croaky's new home (temporary, but don't tell the kids, they think he's still there). A little bit of moisture can go a long way for a frog out of a pond, and it's a great way to talk to talk to kids about Camouflage too- as the frog will inevitably 'get lost' several times while they're looking after him, only to be spied right in front of their feet, a moment later.

Monday Inspiration: Edith Carr

Edith Carr, Painted Jug, 1906 (source)

Edith Carr (1856-1919), was Emily's older sister, she looked after the Carr siblings after her parents death. Apparently art ran in the family because she also painted on china, and won awards and sold her pieces too. She was also a founder of the YWCA in Victoria B.C.

The painting on this piece is growing on me, nicely composed and probably at that time pretty different from other painted china. I think in 1906 china painting was a much more delicate business, (I'm thinking roses and baby's breath) with small very detailed scenes being the norm, so perhaps these chunky cherries would have been outstanding then. It's certainly a lovely little pitcher, the colour choices work well, and though now it seems a little ordinary- like I said- in 1906 perhaps it was quite special.

This week

::A rare sunny evening perfect to catch the light off the riverbank- as the falcon shrieks overhead.
:: Canada Geese- one of my favorite birds- nesting on the islands of cliffs- a very safe place for chicks
:: A Mallard nest in the lone patch of standing summer savory in the garden- not a very safe place I'm afraid- only two eggs left at last count- I'm almost afraid to look today- the girls will be very upset not to have ducklings in the garden
:: An awesomely typical N face
:: Wicked pinstriping on an old safe- good inspiration
:: Snowcap beans to pretty to plant without a picture
:: The first Johnny Jump up (aka Heartsease), quickly plucked and smelled.
:: Good Mother Stallard Beans ( I think)
:: Tree Planting- each year we've been getting a few trees and they've mostly died which is so so disappointing- this year we went all out and spent money to get good quality trees- a whole orchard worth- 6 apples, 2 hazelnuts, a pear, grapes, arctic kiwi, a couple of roses- hopefully we fare better with these ones- the quality seems much improved.
:: N has been starting to use my camera- I thought these ones of her legs were charming because they so capture those moments of figuring it out- lots of 'pant shots'- but pretty good for a 4 yr old with macro setting- those sweet little feet!