Following in the Footsteps
of the Group of Seven
May 22 to September 6, 2010
Following in the Footsteps
of the Group of Seven
celebrates the inspiration of the Canadian landscape.
This exhibition traces the work of Jim and Sue
Waddington who have a passion for locating the actual
sketching sites for artworks by members of the Group
of Seven, including Franklin Carmichael, A.Y. Jackson,
A.J. Casson, Arthur Lismer, and J.E.H. MacDonald.
Juxtaposing the original artworks with photographs
taken by the Waddingtons in the La Cloche Hills in Killarney where these Group members camped, canoed, portaged and sketched, the show will
allow visitors to examine iconic images of the northern Ontario landscape and discover the real inspiration behind them. It will provide insight into the working methods and distinct personalities of the artists through the circumstances surrounding
their trips—climate conditions, the physical challenges faced, methods of travelling, and choice of location. Viewers will observe how the Canadian
landscape has changed in the past century by
comparing the artistic interpretations by the
Group in the early to mid-twentieth century with
photographs from the present day.
This exhibition is developed by McMichael curators, Sharona Adamowicz-Clements and Linda Morita, in collaboration with the Waddingtons. It will feature major canvases, oil sketches and pencil drawings, as well as archival materials, drawn from both public and private collections.
The Waddingtons’ story also inspired the McMichael to develop an innovative Web 2.0 project that launched in December 2009. FootPrints: Legacy of the Group of Seven takes its online visitors through the adventures of Jim and Sue, and into the McMichael’s story where over 200 unique art objects can be viewed. A Community Forum is also on the site, designed to promote visitor engagement with the McMichael and encourage Canadians to share how art and nature have become part of their lives. Log on to www.groupofseven.ca today and share your passion for Canada and its beautiful landscapes that inspired some of our most revered works of art!
Jim and Sue Waddington
Jim Waddington, a retired
professor, and his wife Sue, a
retired nurse and homemaker,
have found a new full-time calling
as they search for the painting
sites of the Group of Seven artists.
Both were born and raised in
southern Ontario, and eventually
settled in Hamilton where Jim
taught Physics at McMaster
University from 1970 to 2004.
As children, Jim and Sue were
outdoor enthusiasts. Later with
their own family, they began
camping in 1968, canoeing in
1972 and eventually orienteering
in 1975. At the same time, they
made their first visit to the
McMichael gallery in the early
1970s. All of their interests
coalesced in 1977 when they
set out to find the exact painting
location of A.Y. Jackson’s Hills, Killarney, Ontario (Nellie Lake) in order for Sue to do some
research before undertaking a
rug-hooking project.
The Waddingtons have camped
in every province in Canada but
Killarney Provincial Park remains a
special place for them. They focus
much of their effort on locating
sites where Group of Seven
sketches for paintings were done
in the La Cloche Hills in Killarney.
On a typical canoeing trip, they
might spend the entire first day
paddling and portaging (with 160
pounds of camping gear including
a lightweight tent, dehydrated
food, clothing, a canoe, and other
equipment), before setting up camp
for the night. Subsequent days
would be filled with hiking, climbing
the hills, and more canoeing and
portaging to investigate potential
locations and photograph them.
