NEWS!
Bluffers Park #225
Just a quick note ... since Mike Myers' movie shoot of The Love Guru has wrapped up at Bluffers Park, the local critters are happy! While I'm sure every effort was made not to disturb Mother Nature, filming and all the equipment that entails, no doubt had the birds and other wildlife wondering what was going on in their little kingdom!
The Lookouts!
New Captioned Cards
in Nature/Wildlife! Enjoy!
A quick thank you to the great folks I met at Cedar Ridge Creative Centre, the Highland Creek Heritage Festival and The Framing Dames! It was a pleasure meeting you all and seeing a lot of old friends!
We had a great time at the Momiji Centre Art Show & Sale! Maxine did a phenomenal job of putting this all together, along with her awesome team of volunteers! The Artists' Cafe was a real treat - lots of goodies and the coffee was amazing! If you missed the show this year, hopefully you can catch it next year. The variety and quality of artwork was second to none. I'm finding it's not hard to get hooked on painting, as well as pottery! So much art! So few walls!
Thank you for supporting these great community events and your support of my work. Enjoy your SpudSnaps! Next stop ... July 1st, Canada Day Celebrations at the The Royal Canadian Legion! See below for details.
Favourite photo moments ... see after Upcoming Events
Current & Upcoming Events
If you would like to receive notices about upcoming events, please drop me a note - susan@spudsnaps.com
Framing Dames 2nd Annual Juried Art Show
211 Morrish Rd., Scarb . 416-287-2025
Exhibit continues to June 28, 2008.
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June 12 - July 22nd, 2008
'As You Like It' SAC Members' Exhibit
at The Bluffs Gallery (Scarborough Arts Council), 1859 Kingston Road, Scarborough, (just east of Birchmount Rd.) - Tel. 416-698-7322
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July 1, 2008 - Canada Day!
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 258
Canada Day celebrations, Tuesday, July 1st, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. There will be many activities, including the parade, including wonderful pipes & drum marching bands, games, mini-midway, live band, etc. I will be at the Bazaar portion of the celebration with many new greeting cards and enlarged prints. The Legion is located at 45 Lawson Road, Highland Creek, south of Hwy. 401, west of Port Union Rd.
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July 26, 2008
Art in the Park, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in the beautiful Harrison Estate Park, at the Scarborough Arts Council, 1859 Kingston Road, Scarborough, (just east of Birchmount Road) featuring fine arts and crafts and a very special performance by the Variety Village Drama Group! Parking is limited, but additional parking is available on the sidestreets or across at the Birchmount Community Centre. While I will not be participating in this show, I will be there helping out with my SAC co-workers and enjoying the festivities!
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The Journey
Resuming September 5th, 2008, The Framing Dames will again hold their '1st Friday of each month reception' - 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. - in the meantime, a little summer relaxation! , 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. But come September, come and enjoy the Open House Show & Sale at the Framing Dames' Meadowvale Gallery and meet some of the artists that exhibit in the Gallery - refreshments are also served! Mark your calendars!
Word is getting out! This is getting to be a popular and most enjoyable monthly event. Even if you're not looking to purchase art right now, come and browse! It is a nice get-together and you may just spot that perfect gift or piece for your home or workplace.
The Framing Dames, 211 Morrish Road, Scarborough - see you there! Tel. 416-287-2025
(Seasons of the Park, Summer Rain, Bluffers Park, Imagination)
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Favourite Photo Moments
Baltimore (Northern) Oriole
With nature shots, particularly critters, the opportunity for a photo can come up so quickly and be gone just as quickly! To be lucky enough to capture a shot within a short time frame, is quite a thrill.
Some of my favourite photo moments:
The Journey (shown just above): A beautiful yellow tulip caught my eye in Rosetta MacLain Park recently. It almost looked like a painting with red streaks here and there. While I was thoroughly engrossed photographing the tulip, along came a ladybug - walking right along the edge! How perfect! In her eyes, this tulip must seem enormous - her little world - then she spread her wings and flew away - and yes, I was fortunate to get this shot also! Appropriately, and without any imagination on my part, it is called ''Ladybug, Ladybug, Fly Away Home" after the nursery rhyme!
King of the Marsh: Recently I discovered my first Caspian Tern! They've been around for eons, I've just never experienced them. This particular tern, I've spent many hours watching, as it searches and captures its dinner - dive-bombing into the water head-on!
time for dinner....
Often it's difficult to come up titles for scenes and I often ask others for input. One gentleman thought 'this bird had attitude" -- the marsh was his territory! After some pondering, I decided that 'King of the Marsh' seemed totally appropriate for this Bluffers' resident! The more I look at this photo, the more it rings true! So, thank you Martin for your help on naming this scene!
Swan series: Bluffers Park, one of the world's greatest wonders ... well, at least to me! On this particular late afternoon at Bluffers, I came across two beautiful swans. I stood for almost 2 hours at the water's edge, at times hanging onto a small branch to keep me from falling into the water. It was almost spiritual to watch this pair, as they glided, danced and courted together. With every move they made, they were completely in sync with each other, moving simultaneously as one. In one shot, they formed a perfect heart as they paused in front of me. They were aware of my presence, but I guess they sensed that I would not cause them any harm.
This was definitely one of my most memorable and enjoyable times photographing nature. The pictures in this series are The Dance, In Sync, and Swan Hearts.
Kingfisher with Fish: Last summer, I was on a bird hunting hike along the top of the Bluffs. At one point, I looked down and there on the beach below, was a kingfisher sitting on an old tree limb, complete with a fish in his beak! I was so excited, I almost fell off the edge!
Geese in Flight (or as David, my framer likes to call it,’The Magnificent Seven!’: On September 29th, 2006, the Port Union Waterfront Park was officially opened. This is a great place to walk or bike and such a treat to have this facility within our city. I was standing out on one of the ‘rock pile’ type structures,(levee?), photographing the horizon to the west. All of a sudden, I heard a very loud ‘whirring’ sound. As I turned around, a flock of Canada Geese were flying straight towards me. The sound of their wings was like a giant wind machine and you could feel their strength. I felt so fortunate to capture this moment and will always remember this day.
Flower on Rock: An October afternoon at Bluffers Park , I happened to glance down towards the water. There, growing in a rock, was this lovely purple Ecchinacea plant. The late afternoon sun was shining on it like a spotlight. So pretty, so simple, so unusual.
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SpudSnaps may be purchased online (see Order Form) or at these local Toronto (Scarborough) outlets:
Earthsong World Gifts, Music, Art & Crafts in Cliffside Village - 2436 Kingston Road (north side, just west of Midland Ave. - a great place to find the perfect gift and enjoy the special events that Ilse presents. www.earthsongvillage.com Tel. (416) 266-ARTS (2787)
"The Beauty of Nature" exhibit has finished at Earthsong, 2436 Kingston Road (just west of Midland Ave.), but a wide variety of SpudSnaps photo greeting cards are available.
The Bluffs Gallery, 1859 Kingston Rd., Scarborough -visit the Gallery and enjoy a walk in the beautiful Harrison Estate Park! Tel. (416) 698-7322
Global Pet Foods, 3110 Kingston Road, Scarborough - how handy to pick up treats for your pet and a card for a friend, all in one store! Tel. (416) 265-1047
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It's hard to imagine that autumn has come and gone. As I read 'A Tree's Thoughts' at the bottom of this page, it is a reminder of that wonderful time of year, but winter has its special moments also ... boots, shovels, icescrapers and remembering how to drive in the snow! On the other hand, there are those delicious comfort foods of winter - stews, lasagne, chicken soup, chili ... always a compromise!
... what a difference a day makes!
Mary Adair, Editor of Pencilstubs.com, (an internet literary magazine), featured the scene 'Imagination' in a special Arts Presentation in the May 2005 issue. www.pencilstubs.com provides a wonderful opportunity for writers to share their work. ('Imagination' can be found in The Unusual section )
Hat Frenzy! A friend of mine, Diane Foote-Taylor, makes amazing hats. While I don't have any experience with commercial photography, I agreed to photograph Diane's products for her website. It was a lot of fun, the pizza was great and all in all, it turned out quite well! Drop by Hat Frenzy's website ... www.hatfrenzy.com You just may find the perfect hat and other accessories ... all ages, all styles ... all seasons ... they're beautifully made and very creative!
Past Events
June 21 & 22, 2008 - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Momiji Centre Art Showcase & Sale, 3555 Kingston Rd & Markham Rd., (south-east corner) - Tel. 416-261-6683.
Saturday, June 14, 2008, 23rd Annual Highland Creek Heritage Festival! The village will be alive with activity, entertainment, parade, pipes & drums, pony rides, etc. As part of this wonderful celebration, some of your local artists, (painters, photographers, jewellers, sculpturers, etc.) will be outdoors at the Framing Dames. I will have a variety of new greeting cards, small framed photographs and limited prints. Look forward to seeing you at any or all of these events!
Sunday, June 8 – 12 noon to 5:00 p.m. Celebration of the Arts, Annual Exhibit and Sale at Cedar Ridge Creative Centre with special guest Mayor David Miller and special unveiling of a commemorative sculpture and garden - live entertainment, tea room and more! 225 Confederation Drive, Scarborough
Friday, June 6 - 6:30 - 9:00 p.m., Reception & Awards, Framing Dames 2nd Annual Juried Art Show , 211 Morrish Rd., Scarb . 416-287-2025. Exhibit will run to June 28, 2008.
March 4th, 2008 - The Framing Dames featured their First Photography Exhibit. The opening was delayed by one week due to the great bombardment of ice and snow! However, the reception and awards ceremony was held the following week. Don't miss the opportunity to see some very fine photography by many local artists - scenery, nature, architecture, travel.
Feb. 25 to March 21/08 - Rotunda, Scarborough Civic Centre, 'Through the Lens' - a group exhibit with Peter Pomykacz, Allan Westlake and me. This exhibit was very well received. We're glad you enjoyed it and appreciated your positive comments, thank you! It was exciting to exhibit in such a wonderful building, in the hub of our Scarborough! For your interest, there is a live concert - local and international artists - every Sunday afternoon, 2:00 - 4:00 in the Rotunda at the Scarborough Civic Centre - 150 Borough Drive, Scarborough - even a small dance floor for the ambitious!
Saturday, Nov. 24/07 - 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Once again, the Fairmount Christmas Fair will be held at Fairmount Jr. Public School, 31 Sloley Road, Scarborough, This is another fun event and I hope you'll be able to drop by and say hello. In addition to a great variety of vendors, Fairmount always has wonderful refreshments, as well as activities for the children. Hope to see you there!
Sunday, Nov. 4/07 - 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Scarborough Central Lions Club Christmas Craft Sale. This is a wonderful annual community event - great shopping, great refreshments - always enjoyable! There will be over 55 vendors, including SpudSnaps photography! Join us at the Birchmount Community Centre, 93 Birchmount Road, just north of Kingston Road, Scarborough.
At the Bluffs Gallery, the 'Savour' exhibit has been held over until October 2nd, 2007, so you still have time! The Bluffs Gallery's members' Savour exhibit celebrated the final weeks of summer. For this exhibit, I chose 'Seasons of the Park'. It is the same scene in the Harrison Estate Park, but photographed in each of the four seasons. The park is located on the south side of Kingston Road, east of Birchmount Road, in Scarborough and enjoyed by residents year-round.
Many stroll through on their way to Rosetta McClain Park; neighbours meet and chat, enjoy their morning coffee, joggers jog, cyclists cycle and some choose this place for quiet and relaxation - to enjoy the simple pleasures of nature - listening to the birds singing or watching the antics of the squirrels! It is a favourite playground for the dogs of the neighbourhood as well! It is a special place for many.
Sept. 10th/07 - 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Scarborough Artists' Showcase, Reception in the Rotunda, Scarborough Civic Centre, 150 Borough Drive. This juried exhibit is being presented by Scarborough Council members of the City of Toronto to showcase a sampling of the art and creativity of Scarborough residents. There is a possibility that the exhibit will travel to several venues around Toronto.
Scarborough has been my home for most of my life and I was very proud to be part of this exhibit with 'Summer Rain' (as shown on About Us.) There was a wonderful variety of work from all the artists.
Friday, Sept. 21 & Saturday, Sept. 22/07 - 8th annual Creative Visions Art Show & Sale ! at the Port Union Community Centre, presented by the Port Union Seniors, 5450 Lawrence Ave. East, Scarborough. This is my second year participating in this wonderful and very diverse art show. I hope you can come and enjoy the wide array of fine arts, crafts, paintings, sculpture and of course ... photography
Aug. 24th extended to Oct. 2nd, 2007, at The Bluffs Gallery - 1859 Kingston Road, just east of Birchmount Rd. Monday to Friday 9a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tel. 416-698-7322
Seasons of the Park
Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 258, Canada Day celebrations, Sunday, July 1st, 2007, 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. There will be many activities, including the parade, games, live band, mini-midway. I will be at the Bazaar portion of the celebration with many new greeting cards and enlarged prints. The Legion is located at 45 Lawson Road, Highland Creek, south of Hwy. 401, west of Port Union.
Momiji Centre, Art Showcase & Sale, Saturday and Sunday, June 23rd and 24th, 2007, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., 3555 Kingston Rd. at Markham Rd. (south/east) Tel. 416-261-6683. This is my first year participating at the beautiful Momiji Centre. In addition to SpudSnaps greeting cards, I will also have limited enlargements, including Bluffers Park. There will be something for everyone at Momiji ... paintings, jewelry, pottery, needlework and sumi-e ... plus delicious home baking at the Artists' Cafe.
The Framing Dames First Annual Juried Art Show, featuring artists from Scarborough and Pickering. The opening reception and award ceremony will be held on Friday, June 15th, 2007, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. If you are unable to attend the reception, please note the exhibit runs until July 2nd. The Framing Dames are located at 211 Morrish Rd., Scarborough, a few doors north of Old Kingston Rd. (Highland Creek.) Tel. 416-287-2025.
Saturday, June 2, 2007 - 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Guildwood Day at Sir Wilfred Laurier Secondary School, Guildwood Parkway. This is an annual community event, complete with children's activities, BBQ & refreshments and local arts and crafts. SpudSnaps greeting cards and prints will be available. Look forward to seeing you there!
I am happy to announce that the photo, 'Summer Rain' was accepted for the Ontario Society of Artists 133rd Annual Juried Exhibition, entitled Fire, Air, Water, Earth.
The reception will be on Thursday, May 3rd, 2007 - 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the John B. Aird Gallery, Macdonald Block, 900 Bay St. at Wellesley, Toronto, Tel. 416-928-6772. It would be wonderful if you are able to attend the reception, but if not, the exhibit continues through to May 25th.
Nov. 13, 2006 to Jan. 31, 2007, 'The Beauty of Nature' exhibit is on display at the Second Cup, Delisle Court, 1560 Yonge St., just north of St. Clair Ave. This exhibit features Bluffers Park along with many new nature prints.
Nov. 22, 2006, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Nellie's 3rd Annual Art Auction, 'Great Art Glad Heart' fundraising for Nellie's programs for homeless and abused women, Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. west (east of Dufferin). SpudSnaps has donated a framed 8 x 10 black & white of Bluffers Park #225 and hopefully this will bring in a good price for Nellie's!
Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fairmount Junior Public School Christmas Fair, 31 Sloley Rd. SpudSnaps will once again be participating in this thoroughly enjoyable community event, with many new greeting cards and matted prints. Hope you are able to enjoy this event and drop by to say hello!
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A quick recap of the year...
(I'm leaving this in for now for those of you making your first visit to SpudSnaps)
Spring is a time of renewal and this was evident everywhere I looked … the trees budding, flowers sprouting up ... almost healing to observe this kind of wonderful transformation. I always marvel at how nature survives the extreme deep freeze of our Canadian winters. The wildlife appeared in two’s and if they hadn’t found mates yet, they were definitely on the lookout! You could feel spring everywhere at Bluffer's Park. The sights, the sounds, the fragrances, all announcing “It’s spring! Celebrate life!”
The arrival of spring brought great photo opportunities for new greeting cards. Remember The Smiling Ducks? Well, the little mallard picked her mate and the sequel to that scenario is called The Honeymooners! There's also the Curious Squirrel, a real little character. From the radiant Red Tulips to The Kids, from the Dragonfly to Gatsby Tea Time, to the serene Evening Swans and the charming bandit, Raccoon Lookout, it's been a very busy time.
The lazy hazy and very hot days of summer provided perfect conditions for producing truly gorgeous flowers. How fortunate we are to have such wonderful gardens and parklands.
We are now enjoying the magnificent colours of autumn, a season with its own unique flavour. But we approach yet another phase of the year; the quietening of nature, the scrunching of leaves under our feet, the coolness in the air, that wonderful fall fragrance … the countdown, so to speak, before the dregs of winter set in!
A TREE’S THOUGHTS … by Susan D.
It is autumn
Look how beautiful I’ve become for you!
You felt happiness and hope
when you saw my new buds and blossoms
in the spring … a new beginning
I gave you shade in the summer
with my full dress of leaves.
Look, I’m showing off for you!
My leaves are a painter’s palette
but will soon disappear with the wind
My branches will be blanketed in snow
my winter friend.
I will see you in the spring and
once again take great pleasure
in revealing my beauty to you
with new growth.
Treasure these moments, these memories
the sights, the sounds, the fragrances of autumn
to carry you through the winter
while I sleep and rejuvenate.
(c) SpudSnaps!