Monday's - CROW has private rentals all day
Tuesday's - Pottery
Wednesday's - Quilters & Potters
Thursday's - Fibre Arts all day
Friday's - Art Circle
For the most accurate & up to date info please visit the online calendar by clicking here, More & more activities and groups will get going in September.
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Just a friendly reminder that masks are still required inside the schoolhouse and you must remain 6ft apart when possible. Please do not crowd the hallways or doorways. The kitchen is open for limited use. Please ensure you wipe everything down as required by the health unit and wash & put all items away.
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Week 2 running from
August 23-27 for kids age 10-14
email meraschoolhouse@gmail.com for to see if any spots remain
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Masks and Art at MERA in September
Summer is here and fall is coming, and MERA is optimistically planning another outdoor art show for September 18th. This is a call for entry for local artists and artisans to join the outdoor show.
A special event will be the “cruise and reuse show” by the MERA art circle. They have made art using found objects from the reuse.
Another special feature will be the optional ‘masquerade’. Visitors and exhibitors will be invited to come to the exhibition wearing a mask’. Large or small, a face or head covering, but it must conform to the health rules and cover the mouth and nose.
There is also a children’s event planned, to paint a large mural.
MERA will comply with all health rules and social distancing
For more information about the exhibition, and how to register please visit the MERA website. www.meraschoolhouse.org
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Masks and Art at MERA Registration
Name:
Address:
Phone number:
Email:
Your Art Medium:
How will you display your art? (table, hanging etc)
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Please bring your art to the school house on Friday, September 17th in the morning between 10AM and noon and help us set up the exhibition. Let us know ahead if you need a table. You may need to bring your own easels or stands for hanging things.
Everything will be put in the school house overnight for safety.
The exhibition hours will be 10 AM until 3:30 PM. You will be responsible for sales, and there is a 20% commission for MERA.
We are inviting exhibitors and visitors to wear a decorative mask if possible. Anything goes...but it must conform to health regulations.
Our rain date is Sunday, September 19th.
For more information telephone Ankaret at 613 278 1875 or Wayne at 613 259 5433. Please send your registration email to Wayne at gwstryde@outlook.com
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Fred Fowler is the recipient of the 2021 MERA Award for Excellence in the Fine Arts and Fine Crafts, with runners up Catherine Orfald and Cheryl Straby, in recognition of their excellent work.
“This was not an easy choice!”, wrote juror Susie Osler. However, after a robust and thoughtful discussion of the twelve submissions, the three-person jury selected painter Fred Fowler as the winner of this year’s Award Of Excellence in Fine Arts and Fine Crafts, with painter Catherine Orfald and clothing designer Cheryl Straby as runners up.
Jurors Sunny Kerr, Curator of Contemporary Art at the Agnes Etherington Art Gallery at Queens University in Kingston, Victoria Henry, curator and art critic, and the former Director of the Canada Council Art Bank, and Susie Osler, ceramic artist, and the founder of Fieldwork, a decade-long, land-based art project in Lanark County, unanimously selected Fred Fowler for the 2021 award. Victoria Henry said of Fowler’s entry, “The jury was intrigued with the mystery inherent in his work. What is the man thinking as he looks overboard puffing on a cigarette and is the woman in the background the source of his contemplation?" Susie Osler commented, "Fred’s paintings capture intimate, and very particular, moments in time and space that resonate with enigmatic narrative.” Sunny Kerr writes “Fred Fowler submitted a selection of elegantly rendered and subtly balanced works in Acrylic. Each gently draws your attention to a moment of clarity. Fowler’s skillful depiction of light serves each painting’s disclosure of a fleeting narrative; these range in mood from intense to delicately serene. My favourite piece is Vibrating The Rim.”
Fred Fowler describes his process, “I’m always seeking a visible level of perfection in whatever medium I’m using. In my heart and mind I know why and what I like to paint. I seek to create artwork that is well crafted, done with a “good eye”, artwork that works technically and is visibly desirable and will tell a tale and emotionally move the viewer.”
Victoria Henry writes about Catherine Orfald’s paintings: "Orfald responds to the landscape she knows well with fine attention to detail." Susie Osler comments, "Catherine’s accomplished, detailed work shows both a deep commitment to her practice as an artist, and the deep connection to the landscapes, and the people enjoying those landscapes, that inspire her paintings."
Orfald describes her process, “The process of keen observation and depiction of my environment deepens my emotional response and further informs my artistic response. I paint to see more clearly, feel more deeply, and to make stronger connections with the world around me.”
Sunny Kerr writes of Cheryl Straby’s clothing designs, “Cheryl Straby’s work is accomplished in its fearless and vivid design and its meticulous artistry.” Victoria Henry says, "The combination of patterns, materials and design creates a memorable and gorgeously wearable artwork.” Straby (of Streve Design) describes her process, “In addition to collage I also enjoy playing with negative and positive imagery derived from nature… the sinuous curves of plants and flowers. My greatest joy is to continue creating beautiful, sustainable and ethically made wearable art clothing and accessories...”
The MERA Award, consisting of a $1000 prize, will be presented to Fred Fowler at a reception on Friday, September 24th. 2021 from 4:00 pm until 5:30 pm at the Schoolhouse in McDonald’s Corners. Cheryl Straby and Catherine Orfald will also be invited. The artwork will be displayed for all to enjoy. If COVID-19 restrictions do not allow us to gather, the celebration will be held on Zoom. To request an invitation in the event of a Zoom celebration, contact Helen Mogford, hmogford@gmail.com.
The MERA Award, which is given every two years, was conceived and made possible by a generous donation by Lanark Highlands residents Chris and David Dodge to the Perth and District Community Foundation, which manages the funds. Recognizing MERA’s important contribution to the arts community, the Dodges chose MERA to select the Award winners.
Anyone interested in learning more about the MERA Award is invited to send an email to meraschoolhouse@gmail.com, or visit MERA’s website: www.meraschoolhouse.org. The next award will be given in 2023
Submitted by Helen Mogford
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Welcome Back to Fibre Arts Day!
Friday, September 16th from 9 to 3
Contact Hilary Barrett for more information
Please note the pot luck information will be available shortly.
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Update from the Heritage Weaver's
The weavers are planning a few things for the coming season. They include: Ellen Good is working on slides about her trips in Laos and Indonesia, story telling about weaving techniques and dying with Indigo. We know that the traditional handweaving is becoming a thing of the past and revisiting the art is keeping it alive. Another weaver is asking about Overshot draft, a lovely weave passed down from colonial times. We will plan a rug project on the 60’’ loom in the Dean hall, always a exciting project.
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The Arts Circle will be holding an exciting art exhibition in mid-September. Date and details to follow. The Arts Circle will meet in person at the Schoolhouse on Friday, September 17th, and new members are welcome. Please contact Gloria Shoebridge at tomgloria@storm.ca.
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The Music Committee has met and we are planning a number of in-person concerts at MERA. It looks like an exciting line-up. Stay tuned for details.
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The MERA Arts Circle met recently and painted 215 rocks the orange colour used to commemorate the aboriginal children whose graves are being discovered. These rocks will unveiled as part of the art festival to be held at MERA on Saturday, September 18th as a gesture towards Reconciliation. Local native leaders have been notified of this action.
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MERA Pottery Studio
After a prolonged closing of all things pottery related we are thrilled to get our hands dirty again.
We have slowly opened the Studio for Tuesday afternoons and Thursday evenings and are considering a weekend time slot as well.
Before the pandemic shut us down we had been planning a big purge and clean up of the Pottery Studio.
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Needless to say this still needs to happen and it would be great to get some volunteers to help.
My intention is to thoroughly clean every surface but before that can happen PLEASE kindly let me know if you want to keep any projects that are in various stages of completion.
There are a large number of projects that have not been claimed for too many years that will be removed or rehomed if they are not spoken for.
There are a number of new members who would like to join the Pottery Studio and we are excited to welcome you all.
We need to get more clay to really ramp up our production.
I am trying to set up e transfer for the Pottery Studio to facilitate easier payment.
If you have any questions please direct them to...Jan Griffiths janetleeg@gmail.com
We are all looking forward to getting back into the swing of things.
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Dear MERA Family.
As much as it saddens me to write this note, I am writing to let you know that my wonderful time at MERA is coming to an end. September 30th will be my final day as the administrator.
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My time at MERA has been amazing and wonderful and by no means is over – just not in the same capacity. My family and I look forward to many more years of laughter, music and art. And maybe I'll finally get into the pottery studio, paint with the arts circle and have so many more fun adventures with all of you.
Thanks for many wonderful years and friendships.
Trina
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“Do you have administrative skills that you would like to use on a part time basis?
Join the MERA team and help us fulfill our mission to build community and support the arts in MacDonalds Corners.
We are looking for someone to work about 40 to 60 hours per month using skills in
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Organization
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Excel Spreadsheets
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Communication by email
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Newsletter, report and grant application preparation
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Mailings, press releases and advertising
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File maintenance
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Information tracking
You would be the hub of all our activities and an indispensable member of a vibrant and fun team as you work with us on the MERA board, attending our meetings as we plan our activities and grow our membership.
For more information including a complete job description and salary, please email us at meraschoolhouse@gmail.com
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Memberships
Friendly reminder that memberships still remain January 1 to December 31. Although we have not been able to be in the schoolhouse, MERA has kept up the community spirit in any way we could and the expenses of having a building have stayed the same. Please ensure your membership for 2021 is paid before you return to your Fall activities. Thank you for your understanding.
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Book Club
| Facilitator |
Month |
Title |
Author |
Notes |
| Wayne |
*Sept. 28 |
A minute or two/without remembering |
Claudia Coutu Radmore |
Poetry |
| Penelope |
* Sept 28 |
A Town Called Solace |
Mary Lawson |
Ecourages hope redemption & enlightenment |
| Hilary |
Oct 26 |
Forgiveness |
Mark Sakamoto |
Post WWII & grudges Can/Japanese have to deal with |
| Dorothy |
Nov 23 |
The Company We Keep |
Frances Itani |
Story of love, loss and friendship |
| Barry |
* Dec 28 |
Finding the Mother Tree |
Suzanne Simard |
Observations of the forest & how it can save the planet |
| Helen |
Jan 25 |
Mermaid of Black Conch |
Monique Roffey |
Jealousy like love can have a hurricane force” |
| Crystal |
Feb 22 |
Euphoria |
Lilly King |
1930s love triangle with multi levels of interactions |
| Ankaret |
March 22 |
Black Diamonds: The Rise & Fall of the EnglishDyna |
Catherine Bailey |
Story of a class war that ripped apart the local landscape |
| Brian |
April. 26 |
How to Pronounce Knife |
Souvankham Thammavongsa |
Human stories from an immigrant perspective |
| Jean |
May. 24 |
The Forgotten Daughter |
Joanna Goodman |
A love story in the context of Quebec separatist movement. The lovers negotiate a constant struggle between love and morals |
| New Choices |
June. 28 |
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Meeting the 4th Tuesday of every month
** Note we have two books to review in September
**Note the date in December. We will need to discuss a more suitable date.
Alternative books suggested as good reads for the summer:
Rabbit Foot Bill by Helen Humphreys
The One in a Million Boy by Monica Wood
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Workshops - a wonderful announcement about the Spring Workshop Series, now the Fall Workshop Series, will come out soon! Watch you email for complete details!
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