12 x 9", acrylic on mounted gessoed aluminium panel
painting #286, 2021
"Kissing the cod" or getting "Screeched-in" is a unique welcoming ceremony that tourists or newcomers often indulge in while visiting Newfoundland and Labrador. It is traditionally used to give them the experience of being an honorary Newfoundlander. The tradition involves a short recitation, kissing of a cod fish followed by drinking a shot of Screech (a Jamaican imported rum). The ritual is often performed at pubs, in homes or aboard tourist boat excursions. Even the fishermen appears to be kissing a cod on the label of the Screech liquor bottle.
We've visited Newfoundland on three different occasions. The landscape is unlike the rest of Canada. You almost feel like you're in a different country, it's a magical land. Our most recent visits were in August 2014 and October 2018. During our one-week family vacation in 2014, we rented a salt-box house during a two-day stay on New World Island where our son Jean-Luc was partially screeched-in, although no cod showed up. He had turned 19 in the spring and was now a university student.
My son Jean-Luc, New World Island, NL, Aug. 2014
When my wife and I returned to Newfoundland in mid-October 2018, we rented a salt-box house in the community of Fogo for 3 days. We were among the very few tourists visiting Fogo Island during this time of year.
Fogo Island is now among one of the new remote travel destinations on the planet. If it's currently experiencing a revival of its economy after the collapse of Atlantic cod fishery, it's mainly because of the efforts of business woman and entrepreneur Zita Cobb. Born on Fogo Island, Zita Cobb with two brothers launched Shorefast in 2006, a charitable organization with mission to build economic and cultural resilience on Fogo Island through a variety of charitable programs and social businesses. Shorefast is responsible for the Fogo Island Inn, which has received global accolades for its exceptional design.
In addition, four art studios were built where selected artists, often foreign can engage in residencies with Fogo Island Arts. Upon the completion of their residency, their artwork is exhibited in the art gallery at the Inn. The contemporary studios were designed by architect Todd Saunders, a Newfoundlander now based in Bergen, Norway who is also responsible for designing the Fogo Island Inn. Situated at various locations on the island, each of the four studios has a distinct minimalist design. Anchored into the landscape on stilts, the studios range in size from two hundred to twelve hundred square feet and are completely off the grid.
Click on this LINKto view a most enchanting video.
After I first watched this video, I knew I had to come here for myself. Shorefast has also established several hiking trails scattered across the island. During our visit, we had a gourmet lunch at the Fogo Island Inn's restaurant, made our way to all four artists studios, although no artist were currently on site during our visits and hiked most of the trails.
Picture window from which I did the
photo study for the painting
My wife Suzanne, Fogo Island Inn restaurant
Long Studio, Joe Batt's Arm, Fogo Island, NL
The book in this composition is The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx. The 1993 novel was the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1994. The narrative follows Quoyle, a third rate newspaperman from upstate New York who tries to rebuilds his life after moving to Newfoundland with his two daughters after his own world falls apart. American novelist Annie Proulx has spent a significant amount of time in Western Newfoundland, returning year after year since the early 1990's. The book was adapted as a film in 2001 and was directed by Lasse Hallström. It features a star studded cast including Oscar winners Kevin Spacey, Judi Dench, Julianne Moore and Cate Blanchett. Ms Proulx is the author of Brokeback Mountain, a short story published in 1997. It was also adapted for the cinema in 2005. It received universal acclaim and was a box-office success. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning three for best adapted screenplay, musical score and for Ang Lee as best director.
The artwork on the book's cover features an image of the etching "Hauling Job Sturge's House", 1979 from Newfoundland born artistDavid Blackwood.David Blackwood (b.1941) is one of Canada’s leading printmakers and most popular artists. In 1976, the National Film Board of Canada produced a documentary film about the artist, Blackwood, which was nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary Short Subject.
I first discovered his artwork while stepping in the Cape Spear lighthouse during our first ever visit to Newfoundland in 1990. Parks Canada had printed and was selling a poster of his iconic etching of the Cape Spear Lighthouse. Blackwood narrative artwork draws on childhood memories, dreams, superstitions, legends, oral tradition, and the political realities of the Wesleyville community on Bonavista Bay where he was born and raised. Blackwood has resided in Ontario since leaving Newfoundland in 1959 to study at the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto. However, he still maintains an art studio in Wesleyville. I've greatly admired his work ever since that first encounter. In 2006, I was fortunate enough to acquire one of his original etchings.
The location of this painting is on Sargents Road, Fogo with view of Brimstone Head (rock formation) and Banks Cove.
This painting will be part of a small solo show entitled "Art-ifacts", hosted by the Fog Forest Gallery in Sackville, NB from October 14 to November 5, 2021.
Unfortunately, in order for the gallery to remain open during the pandemic while keeping everybody safe, the gallery director and I came to the decision that it was safer not to hold an opening reception. The public however will be able to visit the gallery at their leisure during the run of the exhibition. The gallery is open on Thursday and Friday from 10 am - 5 pm. or by appointment.
