Slow Art Sunday - Jackson

Today for Slow Art Sunday, I thought sharing a personal story from my childhood seemed fitting as we commemorate the birthday of A.Y. Jackson, a founding member of Canada's Group of Seven. 

Alexander Young Jackson lived October 3, 1882 – April 5, 1974.

My grandma was an artist and taught me a few things about art.  At a tender age, she took me to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg, ON to see the works of the Group of Seven. I had the opportunity to meet Mr. A.Y. Jackson that day who was on display along with the artwork.  It certainly seemed that way to me as a child anyways, since he sat on a big chair and we had to wait in line to meet him.  I had a program in hand and my grandma wanted me to have him sign it.  I remember not being keen on the suggestion, however, in the end I reluctantly asked, not realizing my good fortune until many years later.  I still have that brochure with an important Canadian old man’s ink scrawled across the top.  

The Group of Seven was an amazing band of artists in the early 1900s that were brave enough to pioneer a new style of art.  They resisted the more traditional, European approach of the day and committed themselves to paint Canada’s rugged landscape in their own way. 

Through the years my grandma offered her own art appreciation course to us grandkids and I for one (and maybe another cousin or two) am grateful.  One particular summer day this spunky granny and her artist friend set up their paintings right there on her front lawn and called themselves “The Group of Two”!  Am I lucky or what?!

Although I’m late coming to art as a career, I still feel the influence of both my artsy grandma and this amazing band of seven trailblazers and appreciate their collective tenacity to carve a new path for themselves.  I’d like to be that brave. 

#slowartsunday #slowart #ayjackson #ayjacksonsbirthday #groupofseven #mcmichaelcanadianartcollection