MUSKOKA ART BIOGRAPHY AND YOUTUBE VIDEO WILL NOW BE PUBLISHED BEGINNING ON APRIL 16TH
RICHARD KARON VIDEO TRIBUTE WILL BE PART OF THE BLOG BIOGRAPHY
AFTER SOME PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS WITH FAMILY, AND AFTER MONTHS OF RESEARCH, ON THE LIFE AND ART CAREER OF MUSKOKA PAINTER, RICHARD KARON, WE HAVE FOUND THAT WE NOT ONLY HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL BIOGRAPHY, BUT ENOUGH OF HIS ACCUMULATED ART AND VISUALS, OF PLACES HE ONCE PAINTED, (IN AND AROUND THE TOWNSHIP OF LAKE OF BAYS), TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT A COMPANION YOUTUBE VIDEO. SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF FAMILY OF COURSE, THE VIDEO WILL PROFILE QUITE A NUMBER OF RICHARD'S WELL KNOWN REGIONAL LANDSCAPES, AND A CROSS SECTION OF HIS EARLY AND EXPERIMENTAL ART PANELS. SON ROBERT, AND UP AND COMING SINGER, DANI O'CONNOR, WILL HELP CREATE THE BACKGROUND MUSIC FOR THE SHORT VIDEO. ROBERT, THE VIDEOGRAPHER, IS HEADING OUT TO VISIT SOME OF THE PLACES THE BAYSVILLE AREA PAINTER USED TO VISIT, WHILE ON LOCAL SKETCHING VENTURES.
YESTERDAY, RICHARD KARON JR., (THE ARTIST'S SON), ROBERT AND I, VISITED A LOCAL RESIDENT, WHO OWNS TWO SIGNIFICANT KARON PAINTINGS, BOTH FROM THE LAKE OF BAYS AREA OF THE DISTRICT. THE LARGEST OF THE TWO PAINTINGS, WAS POSITIONED PROMINENTLY IN THE HOME, BETWEEN TWO LARGE PICTURE WINDOWS, LOOKING OUT ONTO A BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED YARD, WITH NATURAL SCULPTURES PLACED UP THE TREED HILLSIDE. THE YOUNG MR. KARON WAS QUITE IMPRESSED, THAT HIS FATHER'S DEPICTION OF A MISTY, LAKESHORE, AND A VENERABLE BIRCH, COMPANIONED THIS NATURAL GALLERY OF MUSKOKA WOOD AND ROCK……AND, OF COURSE, AS KARON WAS FAMOUS FOR, A HEAVENLY SKY. WE ENJOYED A WONDERFUL VISIT WITH A TRUE PATRON OF THE ARTS; ORIGINAL KARON PAINTINGS IN THE MIDST OF A PLETHORA OF OTHER CHERISHED ART WORK AND NATURAL SCULPTURES.
RECENTLY, ON BEHALF OF THE KARON FAMILY, WE HAVE BEGUN A MEDIA CAMPAIGN, IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIND OTHERS IN OUR REGION, AND BEYOND, WHO HAVE KARON ORIGINALS, OR HAVE STORIES TO SHARE ABOUT THE ARTIST, AND HIS DAYS PAINTING ACTIVELY IN OUR REGION OF ONTARIO. THE PRELIMINARY RESPONSE HAS BEEN GOOD, AND WILL ENABLE US TO PRESENT A MORE THOROUGH LOOK AT THIS ART WORK, AND OFFER A MORE INCLUSIVE BIOGRAPHY. SO DUE TO THE RESPONSE, AND THE NEW CONCEPT TO COMPANION THE BIOGRAPHY WITH A VIDEO, WE HAVE BUMPED THE STARTING DATE FROM THE END OF MARCH, TO THE MIDDLE OF APRIL. PLEASE JOIN ME FOR AN INTERESTING GLIMPSE OF THE WORK OF A WELL RESPECTED, BUT UNDER-KNOWN MUSKOKA ARTIST…..RICHARD KARON, 1928-1987.
TOUGH DAYS AHEAD FOR GRAVENHURST, FOR ONTARIO……CANADA?
If I've learned anything at all, from the news gathering profession, it's that there is no absolute conclusion to any story we write. Our readers might think it's over, and critics might assume there's nothing left to rake over the coals, but we know by experience, history isn't as dormant and irrelevant to the present……as some folks assume.
Admittedly, we are a little consumed these days about the restoration of the main street pride and prosperity we had in the past. That's a good thing. Having the Town of Gravenhurst actively involving itself in this business revitalization is exactly what needed to happen. I go back quite a few years, harping about this point. This is a positive move forward, that should give mainstreet businesses and property owners, a bit more confidence that the town is paying attention to the prevailing economic conditions, unlike what was going on in many previous administrations. Letting something bleed-out before getting involved, usually inspires death. Admittedly, the core of a charming little town was being clobbered by commercial node development. It's been the same in downtowns, in communities all over North America, from the mall building frenzy of the late 1960's. Considering the main street had its start in the 1860's, a century of accomplishment, should have enabled us to prepare for the inevitability, one day, it was going to need to be refurbished, and re-enforced, to meet the challenges of new economic realities. At least you'd think.
A lot of past councils knew there was something wrong. When I first joined The Banner, as an editor in 1989, I was reporting on BIA unrest and dissatisfaction, with the way the town was bypassing the growing disharmony. It continued really, until two years ago, when the new decade council-term began; fires raged, and tempers reached a pinnacle of anger. Then, as if a light switched on, the crisis of mainstream revitalization was recognized for what danger it presented. Our community showcase, the historic mainstreet, was in peril of becoming totally, irreparably a mirror then, of a ghost town. I think we are all glad these days, to hear and read about pro-active initiatives, at all levels, to bring focus back onto this prominent stretch of traditional, iconic "Gateway to Muskoka" commerce. I hear a lot less bitching these days, and see more action out and about, and I can only hope this is not an illusion. As a vote of confidence in the main street, our boys, Andrew and Robert have expanded their vintage music business, in the old Muskoka Theatre Building, across from the Opera House, creating a new recording studio which is being utilized every day. We are proud to say that business is up, and has been this way for the past two years.
The point of this blogatorial, is to offer some advice to town administrators, and significant others, about the perils to economic recovery and expansion. There are success stories, for many local businesses. There are just as many stories of misfortune, and lesser profit, from others. An article that appeared in the local press recently, that every councillor, and business owner here, should have read, once or three times, documented (in only a few sentences), how declining enrollment may, one year soon, cause the Trillium Lakelands Board of Education, to consider Gravenhurst High School under-utilized. I warned about this in the fall of 2011. I shall continue warning our town about it, because there needs to be a plan of action, prepared well in advance of this becoming a Board agenda item. Suzanne and I served on the Save Our School Committee the first time, prior to the building of the new and more substantial high school in Bracebridge. We came within a whisker of losing our school then, and it's going to happen again. The article itself, as "to-the-point" as it was, should be imprinted on every councillor's mental agenda, because this time around, the school board won't be asking about whether we would like to send our students to a new school…..they will be conducting public meetings to inform the citizenry of the imminent closure of our school. The school is close-enough to the downtown commercial zone, to be a really big concern to the BIA, the Chamber of Commerce, and anyone else who has or wishes to invest in this town. It's easier to keep a school than to open a new one. The Board of Education, due to fiscal realities, is only following protocol. We can't blame them for declining enrollment.
To this point, I haven't seen much interest raised in this community. Certainly not in the press. I have read more about amphitheaters and staff hirings, than about one of the single most important potential disasters to face this town. A major town without its school? All the work that is being done today, to help revitalize the main street……, and with economic development, I dare say will be a wasted effort down the road; the day the school board sends out that notice of intent, to declare the high school redundant, our students being sent instead to Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School. The wrong attitude? To think it won't happen during the present council term. And to mistakenly believe that present councillors won't be at the epicenter of the controversy. So if I was the local press, I'd be conducting personal interviews with every councillor at the table, and demanding an answer to one major question.
"Do you believe we should maintain Gravenhurst High School, or send our students to a larger, newer, better appointed school, twelve miles north, where there are more course options?"
As a preamble to this question, how many councillors are committed to fighting to maintain our high school? One hundred percent? Seventy percent? Lower? If it's a case, Council can not come up with a strong majority of support to keep the school open, and show a unified willingness to fight what may already be inevitable, there is little the citizens can do without the cavalry. Apathy and procrastination on this issue, by any high ranking official in this town, service club or fraternal organization, or anyone else who loves this town, will cost us dearly in the defense we can mount. We must all recognize, solutions need to be formulated now……and that sitting on the fence watching the events proceed, is the guarantee, the school has no future. Young families will have little reason to move here in the future, knowing that when their children reach high school age, they will be bus-bound for at least four years. The boon here……Bracebridge wins again. Frankly, it's time Gravenhurst got fighting mad about this stuff, because Bracebridge isn't going to object to accommodating more students……bringing more of everything to our neighbor, while we watch the sand slide from the hour-glass.
Due to declining enrollment in many parts of the province, with the exception of certain urban neighborhoods, this is not a Bracebridge-Gravenhurst anomaly. The fact that high school age students are presently going to the two high schools in Bracebridge, has beaten the enrollment locally down consistently, over the past few years. With news that the new provincial budget, may herald a fee being applied to what is popularly called, "The Victory Lap,", the post graduate preparation year, well that's a further stone to attach to a drowning institution. Those returning students, who would have continued on the five year program, as it was before it was scrapped by government, is helping keep the enrollment numbers up. I would imagine a substantial percentage of these students would decline coming back, because they couldn't afford the expense. In this year, students also work to raise additional money, to finance post secondary continuation.
It's damn hard for administrators of our school, with many less advantages than the larger BMLSS, to encourage local families to keep their kids in our secondary school.
I believe, and I may be wrong, but the new school in Bracebridge, was constructed in such a way, as to more easily facilitate future expansion if required. Handling another three to four hundred students might be a tight fit…..I don't know. Chances are however, the bean counters at the Board, will find cost savings with amalgamation.
Is it hard to close a school? Well, all I know, is that the Trillium Lakelands School Board closed the original BMLSS, that did require some documentation. They know how and when to do it. And they tried a few years back, and it was perfectly described as a "close call." This one, the way it's going, is going to be a bullseye, and our ability to argue successfully, to maintain it, a near impossibility, without lots of organization and advance mobilization.
With the impositions we may be faced with, when two major budgets arrive on our doorsteps, by the end of this month, and the cuts expected in education generally, it's a pretty good time to put our school's future on the front-burner…..and pay attention. If our councillors are genuinely concerned about economic development, and main street revitalization, well folks, the proof will be in this pudding. The result of inaction now, will guarantee a crisis a few years down the road……unless, all of a sudden, we inherit a lot of high school age students, who like the ambience of a small school versus a behemoth.
Is it council's business? You bet it is! My advice? Create a committee now, of community representatives, with the sole mission, of acting as a liaison between the Trillium Lakelands Board of Education, and the Town of Gravenhurst, to keep councillors up to speed on all new developments and board initiatives, in order to develop strategies to deal, on solid footing, with any future directive, to close Gravenhurst High School. Don't leave it to a new council down the road. It could be too late.
If I was to say, out of the clear blue, that "the sky is falling," you would be within a comfort zone, to suggest Mr. Currie is just a run-of-the-mill alarmist. The sky isn't falling. But something else is! Enrollment!
FOR MY ANTIQUE HUNTING MATES
Just a short story to share today about the real value of letting experts do what experts do……in antiques and art particularly.
I was at an auction, some years back, and was astonished to find a circa 1830's winter landscape, depicting skaters and horse-drawn sleighs, and a beautiful farm house in a most picturesque valley. It had a visible tear in the canvas but I figured it was worth purchasing and having professionally repaired. As repairs are substantial, with fine art, if the value of the painting is of minor consideration, it wouldn't be prudent to put much money on top of what you paid. Unless of course it has some sentimental or heirloom value to your family.
The painting had been placed on a high shelf in the hall, being used for the charity auction, and it was in company of many framed prints and black velvet art, none in the same league as the original painting I've described. The auctioneer slowly progressed through the low quality prints and paint by number panels, and when they came to the huge framed landscape, the bidding was half what I had expected. I got the painting for seventy dollars. It has been appraised at $5,000. I don't hold a lot of stock in appraisals like that, and the only amount I concern myself with, is either an official insurance appraisal, or the cheque I get when it is finally sold.
What amazed me, was the number of people who came up to me, after I had purchased the painting, to see it up close. As it had been with some landscape prints, of equal size, most in the crowd I talked with, believed it was also a print. I actually had to ask people to stop fondling the canvass, as it already had two small tears. It's pretty easy to detect real canvas and real oil paint with brush marks, from what is a modern day print mounted on cardboard. From the elevation, however, it was much more difficult for most non-art folks to discern.
The painting was done in the 1830's and has a Cornelius Krieghoff look to it, and although the art supplies and stretched canvas, came from the same supplier he had also used in New York, it's not one of his……or I would be laying today, blogging from some luxurious south seas cabana, being pampered by many attendants. We do think it is a Quebec scene but it has been hard to verify. Point is, I got a good deal on a fine painting. So what did you do after preliminary research Ted? Well, being a cheap bugger, to begin with, I decided to restore the painting myself. You won't believe the near-disaster I had. It began like this. My wife has some sewing alchemy at her disposal, so we were able to secure the tears with what is called "interfacing," which has a fabric-safe adhesive, that you can iron in place. It worked brilliantly, to at least secure the tears from getting any worse. I still intend to have it professionally restored.
I have watched professional framers use glass cleaner to wipe-down original oils. I've actually asked questions while the technician was working away on a filthy, soot-covered oil painting, from the turn of the 1900's. While they do many tests to see if the colors run, or any thinning or chipping of the paint occurs, they seemed to get a pretty good result, and I never heard a single complaint from a customer. We used to have our antique shop below a framing business, so it's why I know this information. So I was slow and methodical, when it came to cleaning the years of fireplace soot off this painting, that had obviously hung over someone's mantle for a long time. To clean the frame, I used a more powerful cleaning spray. I was careful not to expose the painting to this more caustic cleaner.
I worked outside on a big table, because of the fumes from two cleaners, and I sort of alternated between the glass cleaner and the spray I was using for the massive wood framing. I was talking to Suzanne at the same time, and half-watching the neighborhood kids riding the bikes up and down the street. It happened like this. I got reckless. Cocky even. I was so bloody sure of myself, well, Suzanne said, "It was bound to happen you know." Well sir, I gave the painting one more overall spray of window cleaner. I thorough soaking, and I knew it would clean-up beautifully. When I tried to wipe it off, the paper towel I was using to dab the cleaner, was much more colorful than it should have been. My God, I had sprayed on the wrong cleaner. I almost called the fire department I was so upset. The cleaner was burning through the canvass. It took gallons of water to dilute the power of that cleaner. That was about a decade ago. The sky still shows the residue of stupidity. You know, if I was asked by any one of you, how to treat a painting like this….or any painting, I would always suggest that spending a little more money, is good insurance…… that it will have its integrity maintained. The subject painting had survived from the 1830's to the new century with a few small tears. Then the crazy, half-ass art restorer, took some heavy duty cleaner to it…….and that now is art history. A history I wish I could re-write. My advice? Don't be so damn cheap!
Thanks for visiting today's blog. Please join me again soon!
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