I had several ideas for today’s column. I couldn’t choose, so here’s an ideas list.
- Have you noticed a dearth of birds this fall? Except for mourning doves, our bird feeder is empty, even of woodpeckers. Our neighbours say the same. On cue, the New York Times reported the number of birds in North America has dropped by 3 billion birds, or 29%, over the past 50 years. Any guesses as to why?
- Silent killers in nature: high blood pressure and… cougars. Behind our barn, a cougar family silently killed and ate a young deer; we heard its death cry. Sadly, we have no photo. So it seems the official word on the existence of cougars in these parts is still “data deficient” (naturecanada.ca). Requires more research!
- Another summer of extreme weather that signals accelerating climate warming. Intensifying concern about it, especially among youth. Going to the climate march in Sherbrooke (past history as you read this). How to elect a government that will take real, urgent action to stop the decline of the planet?
- Not unrelated: We went to the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts in Burlington, VT, to see composer Philip Glass and hear the Philip Glass ensemble play “Koyaanisqatsi,” accompanied by the poetry-in-images film by Godfrey Reggio and Ron Fricke. Koyaanisqatsi is a Hopi word meaning “life out of balance” or “life of moral corruption and turmoil.” It was powerful and disturbing: Life/nature devoured by technology.
HISTORICAL FASHION, 6th
An historical fashion show intertwined with music and song is planned for Sunday, October 6, at 2 p.m. in the former Sawyerville Community Centre, 6 Church Street. Bishop’s University drama students will be modelling old fashions, and refreshments will be served. The event is organized by Sharron Rothney as a benefit for the Eaton Corner Museum. Admission is by free-will donation.
CARDS IN BULWER, 10th
The 500 Card Parties at the Bulwer Community Center, 254 Jordan Hill Road, are on Thursdays, October 10 and 24, at 1:30 p.m. Admission: $6 for cards, lunch, and prizes, to be distributed after the card games.
KITTIE BRUNEAU, 12th
She is a giant among Canadian artists: painter and printmaker Kittie Bruneau. And she is coming to the Galerie Cookshire-Eaton.
Bruneau has had a long and distinguished career, beginning with art training in Montreal, moving on to Paris where she was a ballet dancer, and then to the Bonaventure Island and nearby Percé, where she has had a summer studio for many years. Her work has the energy that you might guess a dancer might display, gesturally extravagent, rich in form and colour. She spreads her canvases on the floor as she works, sometimes walking over them. Her work shows strains of surrealism and automatism, and an affinity with dream and poetry. Over the years she has collaborated with many prominent poets and artists, including Leonard Cohen.
How fortunate that we can see her work here! Alternatively, we could explore her work in galleries and museums in Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, and beyond. Or we could visit her island studio, now preserved in the Île-Bonaventure-et-du-Rocher-Percé National Park.
The vernissage at the Galerie Cookshire Eaton, 25 rue Principale W., is on Saturday, October 12, from 2 to 4 p.m. The exhibition continues on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until December 29.
WHAT UNITES US, 12th & 13th
RURART at La Ferme Généreuse is planning public art presentations on Saturday and Sunday, October 12 and 13, at 4 p.m. The preceding week, six visiting artists will be at La Généreuse, working with artist-dancer Amélie Lemay-Choquette to create exhibits around autumn and the theme of “What unites us.” At the end of the week, they will share the results of their work to the public.
The event will take place outside, rain or shine. Participants will be guided on a walk through the farm to discover the different works of art. The walk could last 75 minutes, more or less, so participants are advised to wear comfortable shoes and clothes that will protect them from the weather. Farm and local treats will be served for a modest price; bring cash. La Généreuse is located at 540 Labonté Road, Cookshire-Eaton. Tickets are $20/adult, $15/student, or $12/child. Info: rurart.ca, or 819-342-9348.
APPEARANCES, till December 15
On the theme of Appearances, visual artworks and photography by Luc Pallegoix, Chloé Beaulac and Catherine Rondeau are on exhibit until December 15 at the Centre Culturel Yvonne L. Bombardier, 1002 J.-A.-Bombardier Avenue in Valcourt.
VIACTIVE
Bilingual Viactive exercises for seniors on Wednesdays: At 10 a.m. at the Armoury Community Centre, 563 Main Street, Bury. At 10 a.m. at the Manoir de l’Eau Vive, 210 Principale East. At 10 a.m. at the Sawyerville Community Centre, 6 Church Street; and at 1:30 p.m. at the Newport Municipal Hall, 1452 Route 212, in Island Brook.
CHURCH SERVICES
Baptist. In Sawyerville, the Sunday worship service is at 9 a.m. in French, and 11 a.m. in English. Sunday school is at 10 a.m. in English and French. Info: 819-239-8818.
Anglican. On October 6, Sunday services are at 9:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s in Bury, and at 11 a.m. in the theatre of the Manoir de l’Eau Vive, Cookshire. On October 13, services are at 9:30 in Bury and 11 a.m. at the St. Peter’s Church in Cookshire. Info: 819-887-6802.
United. On October 6, Sunday services and holy communion are at the Trinity United in Cookshire at 9:30 a.m., and the Sawyerville United at 11 a.m. On October 13, Thanksgiving “Harvest Gathering” Sunday services are in Cookshire at 9:30 a.m. and Sawyerville at 11 a.m.
Participants are invited to bring food to give to two local retirement homes. In Cookshire, donations go to St. Paul’s Rest Home, Bury, and in Sawyerville, to the Morrison Home, Sawyerville. Info: 819-889-2838 (listen to message).
Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email rawrites@yahoo.com by October 7 for publication October 16, and by October 21 for October 30.