Field Notes for Winter 2024

Spotlight: In Love and In Art

When you’re an artist in a relationship with another artist, do the two worlds overlap? How is your art influenced when you share your life, your home and your profession? These are some of the questions Sharona Adamowicz-Clements, art curator at the Peel Art Gallery Museum and Archives (PAMA), hopes viewers will ask at In Love and In Art, an exhibit showcasing two prolific artistic couples – Caledon’s Jim Reid and Peggy Taylor Reid, as well as Gina Rorai and David Urban. 

“Both couples have a really impressive collection of work individually, but in this exhibit, we wanted to create a tension, sort of teasing the viewer, hinting that you’re looking into their private world to understand the psychology behind the art,” explains Sharona. “We want viewers to wonder, Does their work impact each other? Is there competition? Has one artist been able to inform the work of the other without even realizing?” 

Jim and Peggy have been making art – separately – at their home in Terra Cotta for over 40 years, and this is the first time they are being exhibited together. Peggy says artists “need space” to create, and it’s just as important to know when one person needs to be left alone as when they need company, though the couple does admit to wanting each other’s feedback. “Artists tend to be less secure,” Peggy laughs. “They’re always searching and wandering and double guessing. I think we reach out to each other for a kick in the butt, to reassure ourselves that we’re on the right path.” 

Asked if they think they influence each other’s art, Jim believes it’s in the eye of the beholder: “I think there are underlying currents that connect us, but maybe on the surface our work looks totally different.” Indeed, their artistic genres seem at odds: Peggy is a photo-based artist while Jim wields the tools of the painter. So, do love and art overlap? You can decide for yourself at the exhibit, which runs from November 23 to April 6, 2025.

WRAPPER’S DELIGHT 

Grab your shopping list and head to the Dufferin Christmas Market on November 23 at the Orangeville Fairgrounds. It features artisans’ handcrafted products, plus a sip-and-shop event. 

The Museum of Dufferin’s epic Holiday Treasures Craft Market marks its 20th anniversary with more than 60 talented makers, creators and vendors, from November 27 to December 8. You can also make your own treasure at the museum’s Wreath-Making Workshop on December 8, using foliage from the Dufferin County Forest to decorate a 10-inch wreath.

SPRUCE THINGS UP

The perfect Christmas tree is waiting for you at local tree farms, including Erin Hill Acres in Hillsburgh with pre-cut or cut-your-own Christmas trees and wagon rides – and live music on weekends. Warm up at a bonfire and sip on gourmet hot chocolate at Erin’s Elliott Tree Farm and explore their Maple Syrup Museum. Or enjoy the magic of a horse-drawn carriage ride through Hockley Valley Farm’s snow-covered forests (weekends only).

NO BUSINESS LIKE SNOW BUSINESS 

Don’t give winter the cold shoulder! Resist the urge to hibernate and head outdoors to embrace the season, starting with a Chill Session Run at Mansfield Outdoor Centre on November 30 followed by hot chili and beverages. 

Once there’s enough white stuff on the ground – typically from January to March – bring your own skis or rent a pair at Mono Nordic Ski Club’s cross-country trails or seek out ungroomed paths when you loop around Ken Whillans Conservation Area. Thrill seekers zip down trails like the Boomerang and B.D.’s Choice at Hockley Valley Resort – don’t miss night skiing this year. 

Gear up for the quintessential winter experience of ice fishing when you see the iconic ice huts pop up at Island Lake Conservation Area – the annual Ice Fishing Derby runs from February 8 to 17. If skating is more your speed, take advantage of community centre skate sessions, or skate outdoors at the Alton Mill, the Inglewood Community Outdoor Rink, Mono Community Centre, and Natasha Paterson Memorial Park in Shelburne.

THE NEXT GENERATION OF SKILLS

Thirteen-year-old Akeylah James of Shelburne co-hosts TVOKids series Trading Skills, where she meets welders, chefs, cabinetmakers and other professionals to learn about the wide world of skilled trades.

“I’ve had so many amazing experiences with this show so far and I can’t wait to learn more from all these talented tradespeople,” says Akeylah. Catch the first six episodes on TVOKids’ YouTube channel.

JINGLE ALL THE WAY 

Christmas at Downey’s Farm Market has it all: wagon rides, scavenger hunts, magic shows, farm animals, mini putt played with hockey sticks, and visits with Santa. Buy tickets in advance for this popular event, which runs from November 30 to December 22. 

IN THE LIMELIGHT

’Tis the season to take the entire family out to see the magic of live theatre. Find out just how true “happily ever after” is during Norm Foster’s A Snow White Christmas, performed by the Blackhorse Village Players in north Caledon from November 20 to December 8. 

It’s also time for silly, boisterous pantomime productions. Hillsburgh’s Century Church Theatre is known for its annual hijinks; this year catch Cinderella, complete with her evil stepsisters and Prince Charming, from November 23 to December 8. And Theatre Orangeville’s panto Sleeping Beauty … A Fairy’s Tale retells the beloved tale with topsy-turvy twists that will have you cheering and booing from your seat. It runs from November 28 to December 21. 

The heartwarming holiday hits keep on coming at Brampton On Stage with Brampton Concert Band’s Christmas at The Rose on December 7, and The Rose Orchestra: Yule Sing on December 14, featuring the delightful young voices of the Brampton Children’s Chorus and St. Roch Chorale. 

In the new year, follow four friends on a riotous road trip from Toronto to Newfoundland with Theatre Orangeville’s The Beaver Club, on stage from February 6 to 23.

And if you’re flipping to your March calendar, don’t miss TV personality Tracy Moore at a fundraiser for Family Transition Place on March 7 at Hockley Valley Resort. Visit familytransitionplace.ca for info.