News… & Happy Canada Day!

Sandbanks Provincial Park © 2009 Michelle Basic Hendry

To say the last week has been eventful would be an understatement! Here’s what happened…

• We went to Prince Edward – County! …and visited Sandbanks Provincial Park (today’s pics)
• A couple of family crises that have turned out OK – (whew!)
• I had a milestone birthday
• My Gallery (Auburn Gallery) is moving to a beautiful new location on Royal St. here in Gravenhurst and the grand opening is on July 11 with an outstanding painter – Sharon Nix
• And the biggest news of my personal week —– I got accepted to the Annual McMichael Autumn Art Sale in October!

To be invited to take my paintings to such a place as the McMichael Canadian Collection – even for a few days – was something I did not think I would achieve so soon. I am overwhelmed and honoured to be a part of this exhibition.

The Exhibition and Sale at McMichael opens on Friday October 23 with an opening reception at 6 -10 pm and runs until October 25. I’ll post more details in early October. If you would like a copy of the brochure, send me an e-mail with your snail mail address (this will redirect you to my e-mail link on my site – avoids spam!)

Iris at Sandbanks Provincial Park © 2009 Michelle Basic Hendry

Sandbanks Provincial Park

It was a little warmer than I like it this past week. The end of June is either too hot or too wet. I tend to escape into the cool cave-like shelter of my studio when the humidex climbs over 30 degrees celcius, but the call of sand dunes in Ontario was too much. This was something I had to see.

Sandbanks Provincial Park © 2009 Michelle Basic Hendry

I was completely amazed by the huge sand dunes that are to be found at the end of Lake Ontario as it begins to narrow toward the St. Lawrence River in Eastern Ontario. Even when we were still miles away from our destination, the dunes were visible on the other side of the bay.

Sandbanks Provincial Park © 2009 Michelle Basic Hendry

For hours, we sweated our way up and down these massive dunes. In the photo above, you may note the ant size of the people, and there were still places with a greater view!

Sandbanks Provincial Park © 2009 Michelle Basic Hendry

The summer is an extremely busy time at this park, but, if you are willing to make the hike, there are places along the dunes where few will venture. Wildflowers and banks of wild roses covered the tops of some of those dunes.

My husband and I sat quietly atop of one such dune. The north side of it a cascade of purple wildflowers and the view of deep blue water. We sat silently, cooled by the breeze from the Lake, forgetting we we minutes away from one of the busiest beaches in Ontario.

Wild Roses at Sandbanks Provincial Park © 2009 Michelle Basic Hendry

Rather than scaling the dunes to return, we climbed down to the water, where we sat again and watched the light change on the sand. The water near to the shore was gold and shimmered in the sunlight and became richer as the sun began to drop. It took us nearly an hour of wading in the shallow water to get back to where we had left our bikes.

Sandbanks Provincial Park © 2009 Michelle Basic Hendry

The park is like a long spit of land that separates the big lake from the smaller inner lakes of Prince Edward County. The area is well known for its artists and as the biggest winery district outside Niagara in Ontario. We rode our bikes down flat sideroads where water was in constant view. Due to the heat, carrying the big black pack with the camera wasn’t always happening! LOL! I see it an an excuse to return…

Sandbanks Provincial Park © 2009 Michelle Basic Hendry

The week was ended with a wonderful birthday celebration upon returning home. Now that McMichael is on my calendar for October, the lazy days of travel must be abandoned for the studio. And I must say, I am very excited to start painting.

For my Canadian readers – Happy July 1st! Enjoy your Canada Day fireworks, wherever you may be! I have really enjoyed sharing some of Canada’s most beautiful places over the last year with all of you.