Cobequid Trail at Low Tide

🏆 Colchester Permanent Art Collection

Cobequid Trail at Low Tide No. 1, Oils on Canvas. 24 x 36-inches ©2022

My painting “Cobequid Trail at Low Tide No. 1” was selected for the Colchester County Permanent art Collection in Truro recently.

The Municipality of Colchester established a permanent collection in 1988 and has selected a new piece of original artwork every year since. The pandemic interrupted that annual rhythm and the municipality wasn’t able to add to its permanent collection during the years 2020 and 2021. That’s why this year is a catch up year with two winners announced by Colchester Mayor Christine Blair Thursday, June 16th at McCarthy Gallery on Arthur Street in Truro.

Mayor Blair said the jury, comprising councillors and staff, selected my painting for 2021 as it represents a pathway forward, out of the pandemic.

“We chose this piece as we all tried to cope with the pandemic,” said Mayor Blair. “The Cobequid Trail played a crucial part of the healing process as you could just get away onto a path of moving forward.”

Councillors Laurie Sandeson, District 2 and Lisa Patton, District 8 were present.

Councillor Sanderson, whose district this section of the trail resides in recognized the location on the trail in the painting and said she had been there earlier in the day. It is an extremely popular area for recreation and it runs through to Bible Hill.

I am delighted to be included in the Colchester permanent art collection, especially since this where I was born and raised.

“Cobequid Trail at Low Tide, No. 1” represents the segment of trail that runs alongside the Bay of Fundy’s Minas Basin, where the water bottle necks as it moves into the narrow basin, creating a tidal bore on the way in and conversely, revealing mud flats as the water retreats twice daily.

It is an incredible trail to walk or bike along.

I painted this work as a studio piece. It is derived from a photograph I took along the trail and later composed the idea in my sketch book. I created the painting directly from my sketch, to take it another step away from photography.

Another work entitled “EHS - Boots on the Ground” by Rosalynd Coulter was announced that same evening to represent the 2020 Colchester art selection. Her work depicts an emergency worker on the job with emergency medical equipment prominently featured.

“We chose [Coulter’s] piece as we felt it spoke to, or represented how people felt about front-line workers and how they were impacted during the pandemic,” Mayor Blair said. “Supporting and acknowledging our front-line workers.”

According to the municipality’s website, “the selection is based on the quality of the art, the historic development and lifestyle of Colchester County and the medium used.”

Mayor Blair said each work represents different aspects that have governed all our lives over the past few years.

There are 36 pieces of artwork in the show by 14 artists. Many of the pieces are for sale. I have two more pieces there, Cobequid Trail at Low Tide, No 2 and Cobequid Trail at Low Tide, No 3 are available there. It’s a nice collection of work in the show and worth the trip into the McCarthy Gallery for a look, if you’re in the area.

The show continues at the McCarthy Gallery in Truro until June 29th. After that, the works selected for the permanent collection will be on display on the main floor of the Municipality of Colchester building, located at 1 Church Street, Truro.