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75
Summer 2012
Escarpment Magaz ine
Tom Thomson and his friends went on
weekend painting excursions to what
was then the hinterland north of Toronto.
They worked in small groups, giving
each other ideas and inspiration. Thom-
son began to spend more time and
thought to painting than to anything else.
In 1912 Tom ventured up to Algonquin
Park with his friend and fellow artist, Ben
Jackson. They spent a memorable two
weeks in the park, exploring, fishing, ca-
noeing and painting.
The rustic beauty of Algonquin com-
pletely captivated Tom, as he returned
many times until his untimely death.
Thomson’s first ‘important’ canvas,
A
Northern Lake
, resulted from that 1912 trip,
a painting that was later purchased by
the Ontario government.
Tom’s subsequent journeys to Algonquin
brought out more passion and creative force in his work. He would
travel with his paint box, brushes and a supply of small boards on which
to sketch. The sketches were only meant to record a particular mood,
sky or time of day. He would then spend the winter in his studio in
Toronto reproducing his choice sketches into large oil paintings. Today,
The Tom Thomson Gallery’s Virginia Eichhorn, feels that the sketches
are in many ways better then the large canvases. In her opinion the
Thomson sketches are more vibrant and alive and portray his emotion
when he painted them.
Every year Tom would venture back to Algonquin Park. He quit his
graphic design job and supplemented his income as a guide and forest
ranger. But painting was quickly taking over his life. In the spring of
1917 Tom was back at Algonquin Park and had decided to make a
living as an artist. He wrote to his father and simply stated, “I'll stick to
painting as long as I can.” During the spring thaw, Tom sketched in the
same spot every day to make a visual record of the changes. He would
then spread these small panels around his room to dry.
One July evening Tom and a group of park regulars, spent the evening
partying. The next day Tom was seen heading out in his canoe on a
fishing trip. He was never seen alive again. Eight days later his body
was found floating near the shore of Canoe Lake.
This is where the tall tales really take
over. Was Tom Thomson murdered, did
he commit suicide or did he just trip over
his fishing pole, fall in the lake and hit his
head on a rock?We will probably never
really know.
Recently I made a trek back to Algonquin
Park to explore the land Tom loved. I
found Canoe Lake to be far more com-
mercial then I had expected. The large
dock not only held canoes for rent but
power boats as well. Of course when
Thomson lived there a hundred years
ago, a bustling community surrounded
Mowat Lodge on the northern shore of
Canoe Lake. The train station saw four
trains a day and the lumbering industry
was in full bloom, clear-cutting vast tracks
of virgin forest for the growing markets
abroad.
My wife and I did find a picturesque rugged trail circling a small irides-
cent lake. As we walked, one lonely canoeist silently paddled across
the mirrored water. I then realized what drew Tom Thomson to the park
and inspired him to create his legacy of paintings. Tom’s paintings will
outlive all the speculation, tall tales and rumours. They show the artist’s
vast understanding of and passion for our Canadian landscape.
To celebrate the 100
th
anniversary of Tom Thomson’s first venture into
Algonquin Park, The Tom Thomson Gallery has begun a unique pro-
gram aimed at joining the arts, culture and business communities in both
the Owen Sound region and Huntsville/Muskoka area. This program
is called Canadian Spirit 2012. This past April the Owen Sound Artist’s
Co-op began the celebrations with a show depicting works of artists
within the Co-op that were inspired by Tom Thomson.
Throughout the summer and into the fall of 2012, other groups and busi-
nesses will celebrate and connect with Tom Thomson’s great legacy.
This programwill continue through 2017, the 100
th
anniversary of Tom
Thomson’s death.
Thanks to David Huff and Virginia Eichhorn of the Tom Thomson
Gallery, also Dr. Paul Hiscox, Lorraine (McKeen) Hiscox, Pete Telford
and Jim Gray for information used in this story.
|E|
Upcoming
Canadian Spirit events
-
find more details on pg. 76
LECTURE - TOM THOMSON'S FINAL RESTING PLACE:
MOWAT OR LEITH - NEIL J. LEHTO
SUNDAY, AUGUST 5 AT 2 PM
TOM THOMSON ART GALLERY - ADMISSION: FREE
WORKSHOP - PAINT LIKE TOM II
LANDSCAPE PAINTING FOR ADULTS
INSTRUCTOR: TREVOR PFEFFER
AUGUST 7-10, 8AM -12PM
TOM THOMSON ART GALLERY - ON-SITE AT
VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THE REGION
COST $150 (INCLUDES HST)
HIKE/BIKE RIDE -
HIKE OR RIDE THE TOM THOMSON TRAIL TO LEITH
CHURCH AND TOM THOMSON’S GRAVESITE
MEET: TOM THOMSON TRAIL KIOSK NORTH OF
BAYSHORE COMMUNITY CENTRE
DISTANCE: APPROXIMATELY 10 KM. EACHWAY
(BRING YOUR OWNWATER AND REFRESHMENTS)
AUGUST 5 STARTING AT 9:00 AM
ADMISSION: FREE
EXHIBITION - CANADIAN SPIRIT/HUNTSVILLE
CURATED BY: MARY RASHLEIGH
SEPTEMBER 1 - 30 - THE ART SPACE - HUNTSVILLE,
BUS TOUR - GALLERY TOUR TO ALGONQUIN PARK
SEPTEMBER 25 TO 27
FESTIVAL - THE TOM THOMSON ARTS FESTIVAL
SEPTEMBER 28, 29, 30
CONCERT - THE GEORGIAN BAY SYMPHONY,
"A SENSE OF PLACE" - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20
LOCATION / ADMISSION: TBA