Recharge on Prince Edward Island

Soothing My Soul in Prince Edward Island

I spent a glorious (almost) two weeks in Prince Edward Island, home to some childhood memories, and where most of relatives live. I stayed with my cousin Sue in Kelly's Cross.

I was on a mission: recover from a near-meltdown triggered by the death of my cat, and do some genealogy.

In late June, my Outsider Art/Art Singular group, Remix Collective, mounted an exhibition at the Thames Art Gallery. "We Come in Pieces" was a lot of work bringing together 5 artists from Canada who had never before exhibited together.

Remix Collective consists of Norman Barney from Petrolia, Karine Gibouleau from Montreal, Claude Bolduc from Montreal, Terry Graff from New Brunswick, and me from Chatham, Ontario. We are self-taught artists.

"We Come in Pieces" was an awesome exhibition!

But during this time, my husband and I moved homes.

Downsized.

Packing up after 18 years in a big house was a nightmare.

I missed the near-perfect design aesthetic we had achieved in the big house.

My studio was established in the basement at the new, much smaller, house.

Which flooded a week after we moved in.

I had to quit my part-time job to manage the logistics.

Our youngest son announced that when he goes to school in Toronto in September, he is never coming back. I know it was bravado, but still it made me sad.

Our two boys have grown up.

My husband and I are also going to be Empty Nesters.

Not having kids at home will be a big adjustment for me.

The one-year anniversary of my father's death was also in June.

My father and I were estranged for almost 35 years.

There was no funeral and no mention of me and my sisters in his obituary.

I was hurt, shocked, and then I shrugged it off.

But I hadn't grieved.

Then one day before my birthday, we had to say goodbye to our cat of 15 years, Angus.

I was not prepared for the emotional landslide.

It was too much change.

Too much loss.

After crying for five days, my worried Mom updated my cousin Sue on my "condition".

Sue messaged me: "Finish yer shit in Chatham.. pack a bag and get yer skinny arse on a plane..."

I decided to head "home" to Prince Edward Island.

The last-minute cost of the flight made me wince.

But the trip was worth every penny.

I rested.

I drove my rented red 2019 Mustang GT 5.0 (an upgrade!) all over the gorgeous winding country roads.

I ate mussels and lobster.

I slept with the windows open.

I visited cousins and Aunts.

I went to cemeteries to find relatives.

I went to the Confederation Centre Art Gallery to see the exhibition In the Balance and the Eptek Art and Culture Centre to see Nature Inspires Craft.

Both were inspiring.

I decided that the Remix Collective should exhibit at the Confederation Centre!

I went to gift shops and dairy bars and ice cream parlours.

I took in all the glorious scenery and earthy smells.

I looked at real estate listings.

And I rested some more.

And now I am back home with tons of inspiration for my next art pieces.

I still miss Angus, and there are still boxes to be unpacked but, to paraphrase Andy Warhol, I am 'glued back together'.

Thank you, Sue, for your fabulous hospitality and pep talks.

Thank you, Prince Edward Island, for inspiring me and rejuvenating my soul.

I shall return.

My loyal, fuzzy, Grouchy Old Man Cat, Angus (a.k.a. "Bouche"),

on the last day of his life in July.

Our new MCM house.

The very overgrown back yard, which will be restored to its original beauty. Eventually.

Karine Gibouleau and me during install at the Thames Art Gallery in June.

Nature Inspires Craft at the Eptek Art & Culture Centre in Summerside.

I was inspired!

This was one of the pieces at Eptek that inspired the artists for the exhibition.

It reminded me that my great-grandfather used to have display cases of birds like this one.

It also struck me that this deep-rooted memory may have inspired my

interest in creating shadowboxes.

I wanted to buy this church in Freetown. I wanted to live in it.

Restored mill in Hunter River. The owner turned on the wheel for us!

I fell in love with rug hooking. This piece is from a store in Evangeline.

During my visit to the Island, I saw many examples.

I am now thinking about ways to incorporate rug hooking into my next few art pieces.

Last known photo of my relative, Sterling Banks. He was a pilot in WW2.

This is one of many photos and (sometimes surprising!)

documents I accessed during my visit.

The road less travelled. Which I took.

Often. #nofilter

Basket weaving demonstration, in the Mi'kmaq tradition,

at the Wellington Basket Store.

Cow on the roof at Cavendish Board Walk, Cows Ice Cream.

The ice cream flavours Gooey Mooey and Wowie Cowie rock!

Beautiful stained glass window at Christ Church, Kildare Capes.

It references the Yankee Gale, a massive storm that hit Prince Edward Island in 1851.

90 schooners and 150 men were lost.

Mrs. R.T. Holman. I ate strawberry and rhubarb sherbet in her house,

now a historic property in Summerside, P.E.I.

Mr. R.T. Holman and my almost-finished sherbet.

He is not amused.

A fine example of Gothic architecture in Summerside, P.E.I.

Probably a house that was built during the height of the Silver Fox industry boom.

I absolutely love Gothic architecture.

I supported an Island charity!

The Kinkora Fire Department was having a car wash fundraiser.

My rental car was dirty. ;)

The western part of the Island was decked out for the Acadian Convention.

Even a roof was painted in red, white, and blue!

The breath-taking beach at Kildare Capes, where some of my ancestors come from.

More Kildare Capes awesomeness.

The night of the massive Harvest Moon, which you can see in the distance.

My cousin Sue lives not far from Kinkora.

I hope I get a cool car rental again next time I visit!