DUMOINE RIVER ART for WILDERNESS (DRAW)
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS):
Ottawa Valley Chapter.
In April, Gallery 349 is featuring an eclectic collection of paintings, fiber art and photographs donated by artists who have participated in the annual Artists Retreat on the Pontiac’s Dumoine River. All proceeds from the sale of art in this exhibition will go toward supporting the work of CPAWS.
Each summer, CPAWS provides a unique opportunity to be inspired – and to give back to nature, through its annual artist’s residency on the Pontiac’s Dumoine River.
This year, from July 29 to August 5, DRAW (Dumoine River Art for Wilderness) is once again inviting artists to apply for a one-of-a-kind experience available in the Ottawa Valley. Some fifteen artists with diverse backgrounds and forms of expression, will spend time Unplugged and far from the distractions of their day-to-day world, participants will spend time surrounded by unspoiled nature, hiking, paddling and exploring with other artists who share a concern for conserving our natural resources. Each artist is asked to provide at least one work inspired by this experience.
Based at a private campsite on a widening of the river known as Richard Lake, CPAWS-OV provides all meals and coordinates transportation from the town of Rapides-des-Joachims to the site. This is a camping event. Artists will camp in tents. The site has no running water, but great access to the river for canoeing and swimming. In exchange for this experience, you will be asked to donate one, ready to be displayed, piece of art to CPAWS-OV for awareness and fund-raising purposes.
For information about joining the 2025 DRAW, contact John McDonnell, Executive Director, CPAWS-OVS, at [email protected] or by phone at 819-209-5178.
PONTIAC HIGH SCHOOL MEMORIES
Each year, the Cafe supports local organizations by hosting shows of particular interest to the local community. In April, in addition to the CPAWS show, visitors will also be able to view a set of graduation photos donated to the Pontiac Archives recently by Shawville’s high school. The photographs on display in the Shop area cover the years 1932 and 1956-68. There are a few missing, due to the condition of their frames, but for those interested they can be discovered by visiting the Archives, located across the road from the Cafe. These photos are likely to be of most interest to local residents but the Archives houses an extensive collection of other photographs, documents and artifacts that span centuries, providing invaluable insights into the area’s history which will appeal to many others. Those interested in family history can also find Birth, Death & Marriage Records, Land Grants, Audio and Transcripts, Genealogical Research, Listings of the Pontiacs Catholic and Protestant Cemeteries to assist in their research. https://pontiacarchives.org/about-us/
