Emerging from pandemic hibernation, we are stretching and sizing up the great outdoors, the land of shopping, movies, arts and healthcare. What about the outbreak at the CHUS-Fleurimont? Any Delta variant cases cropping up? How can I get my second vaccination? Are we headed toward Green?

Restaurants, art galleries and farmers’ markets are opening up again! I feel I should punctuate each kick off with an exclamation mark. Maybe I will!
ART IN COOKSHIRE

The Cookshire-Eaton Art Gallery is back! The Gallery’s summer season launches this week with an exhibition of three painters, including two from the Haut-Saint-François. The exhibit is entitled Hors Zone, which I’d like to translate as « Out of Bounds, » because being out in the boonies gives one a sort of feral freedom. The painters are André Philibert, Odette Gauvreau, and Frédéric Lapointe.

André Philibert of Chartierville is an accomplished artist of landscapes with his own distinct approach. Evocative blue tones suggest the realm of night and of snow, and the distance and stillness of nature. Human figures seem tiny because of their distance and the panorama itself may be even further away, in a subtle play between intimacy and immensity. For example, look at Sur la Gayolle, an acrylic painting on canvas that shows tiny hockey players in the foreground, and distant houses at the far end of a long field.
Without knowing it, you will likely have seen Montrealer Odette Gauvreau’s artwork in surprising places. Over the years, she’s been a scenic painter or sculptor for some 45 films and TV series, including the famous Life of Pi. She works in mixed media – acrylics, oils, shellac, talc, metal, paper maché and more. Sculptural, full, and richly textured forms evoke a sense of waiting in her mixed media painting on wood, Tourisme absent. The rocky environment is empty of humans, plants, or animals.

Sherbrooker Frédéric Lapointe grew up in Bury, and came to the visual arts by way of electrical engineering and literature. He principally paints in oils and, according to his bio, « his imagination lights up when in touch with nature. » Indeed, his vibrant colours, spontaneous gestures and inventive forms have the fragrance of expressionism; his works verge on a discussion with Vincent van Gogh about nature in the Townships. A good example is his oil painting on canvas of Le parc Dufresne in Sherbrooke.
The Hors Zone exhibit is at the Victoria Hall, 125 Principale W., Cookshire, from June 24 to September 5, open Thursday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. See you there!

LOCAL MARKETS
The market season is coming to Westbury, La Patrie and Sawyerville! First to open, starting June 24, is the public market in Westbury at the Town Hall, 166 Route 112, on Thursdays at 4 to 6:30 p.m. Next, beginning June 25, catch the public market in La Patrie under the wooden shelter on Chapleau Street, every second Friday, 4 to 7 p.m. Finally, starting July 3, visit the village market of Sawyerville at the community garden, 70 Randboro Road, on Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
EMERGENCE
Emergence: It’s the name of a new anthology of Eastern Townships poetry by women. You are invited to a reading by a few of the writers, via a webinar on Friday, July 2, at 7 p.m., emceed by editor Angela Leuck. Disclaimer: I am among the readers. To attend, register at knowltonliteraryfestival.ca or on Facebook, Knowlton Literary Festival.
WRITING LOCAL HISTORY
Nick Fonda is leading a Zoom workshop on Writing Local History. He asks participants to have a story in mind to work on. It’s on Saturday, June 26, at 1:30 p.m., brought to us by the Write Here, Write Now project of the Bishop’s University Lifelong Learning Academy. It’s free. To register, visit Eventbrite.ca (online events) or email bulla@ubishops.ca.
HAPPY HOUR CONCERTS
Concerts in the park are back! The Cookshire-Eaton Art Gallery is planning four concerts on Sundays at 5 p.m. this summer in the Parc des Braves, 18 Parc Ave., Cookshire. The first is Place à la Relève on June 27, with the Duo Alliage comprised of flutist Johanna Silberman and cellist Marie-Philippe Lemay.
On July 18 is Airs d’été with Myriam Genest-Denis playing flute, and Valérie Milot on the harp. The August 8th concert, Les cuivres à l’honneur, will feature Robin Doyon and Stéphane Beaulac, trumpets; Gabriel Gauthier-Beaudoin, horn; Martin Ringuette, trombone; and Jean-Philippe Dutil, tuba. Finally, on September 12, the concert will present the Despax Quartet with Cendrine Despax and Jean Despax, violins; Maxime Despax, alto; and Valérie Despax, cello.
TIM BRINK
As venues for musicians begin to open, Tim Brink is back! He will be playing at the resto-bar-terrasse of the Sawyerville Hotel, 18 Principale N., on July 3, 6 to 10 p.m. Also, look for him at the Sherblues in Sherbrooke, July 8-10, and the Fête des Vendanges in Magog, September 5.
CHURCHES
Baptist. In-person Sunday services are with Yellow Zone Covid-19 protocols in place (distancing; masks can be removed when sitting down; wear masks when singing, etc.). The service in French is at 9 a.m., and in English at 11 a.m. Persons with flu symptoms are asked not to attend services. The pastor’s message is also available on YouTube: For the link, contact Pastor Michel Houle at 819-239-8818.
Anglican. Bishop Bruce Myers continues to offer Home Prayers at 10:30 a.m. Sundays on Facebook, and at quebec.anglican.ca (Worship Videos). Info: 819-887-6802, or quebec.anglican.ca.
United. Home worship services are available Fridays after 2 p.m. at Sawyerville United Church (box on top of freezer), or at Trinity United Church (plastic bag at basement door). To receive services by mail or email, or for pastoral care, contact Rev Tami Spires at 819-452-3685 or spiresta@hotmail.com. Facebook info: United Eaton Valley Pastoral Charge.
Do you have news to share? Call 819-300-2374 or email rawrites@gmail.com by June 28 for publication July 7, and by July 12 for August 4.