It’s been a week of re-adjusting and enjoying the sunny weather after returning from five days in Newfoundland. The Canadian Museums Association conference was held in St. John’s this year and Station Gallery was well represented with Donna, Deborah and I in attendance.
Our visit east wouldn’t have been complete without going all the way—“all the way to Cape Spear”—the eastern-most tip of North America. This was my first CMA conference and their were many highlights, not to mention the realization that sitting under fluorescent bulbs is the same whether you’re in a room in Toronto or at The Rooms in St. John’s. Although most of our time was spent indoors, we did get a chance to hike around the coast in the Bay Bulls area. Also, a pre-conference day-trip to Cupid’s stood out as that community gears-up later this summer for the quarto centennial of the earliest English settlement in Canada.
The conference theme was ICH or Intangible Cultural Heritage which widely includes everything from storytelling to oral traditions and the many forms of non-material cultural output. One of the key-note speakers was Wade Davis, Nation Geographic’s Explorer-in-Residence. His presentation was rapid-fire, eloquent and poetically pertinent. Anyways, that’s a bit of my storytelling—let me know of your experiences if you’ve been to Newfoundland and Labrador. Would you maybe recommend any places to visit upon my return to the Rock?
Bay Bulls, NFLD
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May 20, 2010 at 9:19 pm
anastasiatiller
This is exciting. Have you seen any icebergs? I am heading down there this Sunday.
May 26, 2010 at 10:51 pm
curator by day
We’ll have to exchange stories when you get back, Anastasia. You’ll have to tell me about the icebergs–I can only imagine.
May 22, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Roxanna Bennett
You absolutely must visit Gros Morne National Park; breathtaking. Codroy Valley is very much a true Newfoundland experience (and where I spent a portion of my childhood), and to see the icebergs, whales and dolphins St. Anthony has a number of tours.
May 26, 2010 at 10:53 pm
curator by day
I’ve heard that Gros Morne is awesome in the true sense of the word. The pictures are amazing in their own right!
May 27, 2010 at 8:52 am
Mia Lane
Whales, dolphin, moose, immense fjords, miles of bogs, majestic mountains, mountains in pure ochre yellow and flat on top, waterfalls, and acres of wildflowers… the inspiration for an artist is endless and everywhere in Gros Morne. I can’t believe there is anywhere more beautiful in the world than Gros Morne. It’s a well kept secret and it’s here in Canada. I went there two years ago to paint, and I long to return!
June 5, 2010 at 5:19 am
Anne Garrett, Artist
Loved Newfoundland – we clamboured all over that rock and did the tourist whale watching boat ride – saw eight different whales at close range. Gros Morne is not to be missed – it is truly a painter’s dream. We met two people who travel to Labrador and Newfoundland annually and had stories to tell! I feel a need to visit Labrador and re-visit Newfoundland. Love the “Ponds” (inland fiords).
June 7, 2010 at 10:43 am
curator by day
Thanks for your comment, Anne. Gros Morne as “painter’s dream”–I’ve heard back in the day that there is a residency in the park or an artists’ retreat. I should check in on its status–have you heard lately, Anne?