When I eventually realized that last Friday was International Tree Day I decided it was serendipitious that I had already blogged about a walk in the woods that morning. No need for further comment.
The next day there was an article in the Globe and Mail about an exhibition of the paintings of Canadian painter, rather hapless explorer, and mystic, Emily Carr, at the Vancouver Art Gallery. It's called Navigating an Inpenetrable Landscape and while I would love to take it in this ain't gonna happen. The photo with the article made me swoon (sort of) -- an entire wall of her tree images!
Carr lived in Victoria BC but made "seat of the pants" expeditions into the Pacific Northwest, both on the mainland and on Haida Gwaii. To a degree she was a European settler in her sensibilities but she had a respect for Indigenous culture that was unusual for her time. She created soaring, swirling depictions of trees whether in the depths of the forest, or in clearcuts, or as totem poles. The exhibition poster is of a totem image that has almost disappeared into foliage.
When we visited Haida Gwaii last June we travelled by boat into Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site. We stopped at an ancient village with teetering and fallen totem poles that were present when Carr visited more than a century ago. She didn't look like the stereotype of a fearless adventurer but she got around. She never achieved significant recognition or prosperity the way members of the contemporary Group of Seven painters (a boys club) did but they admired her work.
I've always loved trees but the longer I live the more I am in awe of their presence around us and the importance of our respectful coexistence. Being amidst trees is a spiritual experience fo us, never more so that when we were on Haida Gwaii. I think about our visit there all the time.
This morning I led Week 2 of our study of Laudato Si: On Care for our Common Home, the 2015 encyclical by Pope Francis. In conversation a member of the Trenton UC board mentioned that to celebrate the 100th birthday of the United Church we will be planting 100 trees at a Conservation Area in the region. This is a wonderful, inspired initiative. Wouldn't it be great if UCC congregations across the country followed suit?
Emily Carr sculpture, Victoria BC
No comments:
Post a Comment