Alex Colville's homecoming

Mount Allison is marking the 70th anniversary of Alex Colville's ('42) graduation with an exhibition at Owens Art Gallery of his earliest works. Alex Colville: Student Years is a collection composed of his works completed during his time at MtA, many of which have never been exhibited before.

The exhibition is composed of paintings borrowed from the National Gallery of Canada and Colville himself. Photos and materials are on loan from the Mount Allison archives and from the Owens collection.

During the run of the exhibit, visitors are encouraged to drop by Colville House, located one block from Owens Art Gallery.

Works on display in the new exhibit include three of his earliest self-portraits and sketches of decorations for the 1941 "Above the Clouds"-themed junior prom, along with archival photographs of the junior class at the prom.

"...This is a wonderful opportunity to view never before seen works by the young artist during one of the most formative periods of his career."
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Check out Alex Colville: Student Years from now until Sept. 2 at Owens Art Gallery, 61 York St., between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free.

See full story: Alex Colville's homecoming (Here Magazine)

Allisonian made Member of the British Empire by the Queen

Congratulations to respected educator Shirley Pearman ('62) who has been made a Member of the British Empire [MBE] by the Queen for decades of service to teaching and the arts.

News of the awards came today as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. 

Mrs Pearman devoted 35 years of her working life to the education and training of young Bermudians in the classroom. She retired in 1997 after serving 16 years as First Assistant at Warwick Secondary School. 

With degrees from Mount Allison (BFA) and New York University (MA Ed), she was the first Bermudian to obtain a Master's Degree in Art Education.

Her service as a teacher and art specialist have been rewarded with recognition from the Sandys Rotary Club, Spring into the Arts and the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, which in 2007 named her as one of its 100 Wonder Women.

She served on various boards and committees including the Bermuda Arts Council, National Library, Stamp Advisory Board, Emancipation Committee and Bermuda National Gallery committees.

She participated in the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival in Washington, DC in 2001, which she described as “one of the highlights of my life” and has also contributed exhibits to the Bermuda National Museum.

As one of the first black Bermudians to serve on the Executive of the Bermuda Historical Society, Mrs Pearman was instrumental in conceiving, organising and administering postgraduate awards for Bermudian scholars engaged in research projects related to Bermuda’s history.

Artist reveals all

Picture this: Stephen Harper casually reclines on a plush chaise lounge wearing a wry smile - and nothing else. A scruffy dog rests by his outstretched leg, while a woman among a group of hovering men serves the lumpy, hairy prime minister a Tim Hortons coffee.

It's called The Emperor Haute Couture, a painting by Miramichi-born artist, and Allisonian Maggie Sutherland that's received an avalanche of commentary since it made headlines last month.

Sutherland, self-described as a "social realist," credits her beginnings in New Brunswick for helping focus her artist's eye. "I wanted to learn anatomy and make people look right. I was really hung up on it. It was kind of an obsession for me," she said, recalling a suggestion by a Mount Allison art mentor that she sharpen her drawing skills.

In 1985, Sutherland enrolled at Mount Allison to study art. While she was most interested in classical, representational portraits, the school's Fine Art program was, at the time, geared toward abstract art. Though she left the university after two years, she credits printmaker David Silverberg's critique for pushing her to improve.

While she doesn't consider herself particularly political, she began the painting out of frustration with the government in late 2010. Harper didn't pose for the portrait, which Sutherland modelled after a 19th century work by French painter, Edouard Manet.

Public response to Sutherland's work has been both enormous and curiously polarizing, the artist says. While positive feedback dwarfs the negative, people either love it, or REALLY hate it.

The painting drew interest from potential purchasers all across the country. After a few low-ball offers, her dealer sold the piece for its $5,000 asking price to a man in Quebec.

To see the painting, ready the full story: Artist who painted Harper reveals all (Here Magazine)

Allisonian, Artist wins national honour

A national honour was bestowed on painter Mary Pratt ('61) last week at The Rooms when the Society of Canadian Artists recognized her with an honorary life membership into the SCA.

The CBC's Beth Macdonell recently paid her a visit at her St. John's home. See video

Alum Exhibition in Vancouver

 

 

RANDALL STEEVES :  S O M A 

JUNE 5 - 20

 

Reception: Saturday June 9, 2 - 4pm

Elissa Cristall Gallery

2239 Granville Street, Vancouver BC

  

Randall Steeves' ('88) thickly painted, textured paintings invite the viewer to reconsider the gesture of painting itself. The canvases explore the relationship between the photographic index and the painterly trace with a wry nod towards conceptual art practice. 

The exhibition features six paintings, all of which have been completed over the last two years. The subject of the canvases is the fingerprint. Steeves had himself "processed" by the Vancouver Police Department in preparation for this work and the pieces are made up entirely of his own prints. 

The paintings are all made from encaustic, a beeswax based paint that is heated and brushed onto the canvas where it hardens immediately. The process results in a complex surface that can be read as a chronology of the painting's construction and as a record of the painter's physical presence and actions. The physicality of the paintings is reinforced by the fingerprint imagery. For Steeves, the fingerprint is "a metaphor for painting... for what I'm doing when I'm making paintings, and what we're doing when we look at paintings. It's about the examination and categorization of human marks, of the traces we all leave behind. Painting can be thought of in similar terms."

Randall Steeves was born in Saint John, New Brunswick. He studied at Mount Allison and received an MFA from the University of Victoria, Victoria, BC. Since then he has been based in the Vancouver area. He has lectured and led workshops at art galleries, colleges and universities across Western Canada and has exhibited his work internationally.

Allisonian, new lieutenant-governor

Congratulations to Brigadier-General The Honourable John James Grant ('56), the new Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia, who was officially installed on April 12, 2012.

Born in New Glasgow, N.S., in 1936, he joined the Pictou Highlanders in 1951, and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce at Mount Allison in 1956. He went on to serve in a number of senior positions before retiring from the military in 1989. He has been active in a number of community organizations, including the Nova Scotia Army Cadet League and the downtown development association in his hometown.

His Honour joins a distinct group of Allisonians who have also served in the capacity of Lieutenant Governors, including:

• Josiah Wood (1863)
• Margaret McCain ('54, LLD '95)
• Marilyn Trenholme Counsell ('54, LLD '00)
• Herménégilde Chiasson ('72, LLD '04)
• Barbara Hagerman ('65)
  

Young alumnus looking to lead next village municipal council

Sandenn Killoran ('09), marketing and public relations coordinator for Sancon Commissioning, officially launched his candidacy for mayor of Belledune last Sunday at the Royal Canadian Legion in Jacquet River. The 25-year-old graduate of Bathurst High School said he offers a fresh approach.

"I'm thinking that Belledune and the entire province is at a crossroads right now with the economy with the way it is and having to look towards new ideas and new possibilities for industry. I think if we have an educated person with new ideas and a new approach in to how we conduct our business, in going after different industries and helping out with the training of our people, it would be something very important to the village of Belledune. I think a new voice and new ideas is something that's been lacking in the previous councils for a few years now."

Municipal elections will be held across the province on May 14. The mayor's seat in Belledune is currently vacant following the resignation of long-time mayor Nick Duivenvoorden in January, with deputy mayor Emmie Flanagan serving as interim mayor.

Killoran, son of Dennis and Roxanne Killoran of Belledune, was born in Grand Prairie, Alberta, and spent time living in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland, and North Tetagouche. He graduated from BHS in 2005 and studied history, English and commerce at Mount Allison.

Killoran said he's always had a great deal of interest in politics and municipal affairs.

"My family is Old Liberal. Basically, from when I was knee-high to my grandfather, it's been Question Period at three o'clock in the afternoon and discussions all night and all day my entire life. I've always been actively engaged in the political process," said Killoran, who is engaged to Mallory Kaye of Belledune.

"Municipally, I've always been involved. I'm the president of our minor soccer club here in Belledune - we have about 80 kids who have joined minor soccer in the summer. We've done a number of charity events that I've organized...and politically, I'm fairly involved in provincial politics as far as the Liberal party, and I know a good number, and have worked with some PC members as well."

If voted in as mayor, he would push for English trades training courses in the village. He said these could be offered online at locations such as the local recreation centre.

"I think it's a bit of a travesty that there's no full-time English courses region except for the few that Dalhousie gets to offer ad-hoc. Anyone who wants to take a full time NBCC (New Brunswick Community College) course in English has to drive as far as Miramichi.

"I really view the potential to have some courses offered, and they don't have to be anything in depth, any two-year courses to start off with. Eventually, I would hope that we could start looking at having full training programs for trades...but something as easy as scaffolding is a couple months course."

Killoran said providing professional training for local residents would help curb the continuing problem of a declining population in the village.

"For the jobs that we do have left, we can look at local people first and have them qualified."

Killoran said he doesn't feel his youth is a negative in being able to do the job of mayor. He said he has a fresh outlook on issues and he feels he can connect with the younger generation to entice youth to move to or stay in the region.

He said his willingness to improve the region gives him the drive to keep moving forward.

"I've always been under the understanding that you should try and make a place better than the way you left it," he concluded.

Bathurst Northern Light, by James Mallory
March 6, 2012

Allisonian named lieutenant governor

Retired brigadier-general John James Grant ('56) has been named the new lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia. Grant, who was born in New Glasgow in 1936, graduated from Mount Allison in 1956 with a bachelor of commerce degree. He later became a registered industrial accountant.

He joined the Pictou Highlanders in 1951 and held several senior positions including deputy commander and appointed area commander in 1980 of the Atlantic Militia Area.

He was invested as an Officer in the Order of Military Merit in 1979 and a Commander in the Order in 1988. Grant, who has been awarded the Canadian Decoration with three clasps, has been a governor of the Nova Scotia Division of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires since 1986, and a member of numerous community groups in the province.

He retired from the military in 1989. Grant will be the 31st Nova Scotia lieutenant governor since 1867.

Read full story: Military man named next N.S. lieutenant governor (CBC News)

The Barra MacNeils returning to Mount A

The Barra MacNeils are coming back to Mount A! The band will be playing at Jennings Hall on FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2012.

The concert will coincide with the start of Reunion Weekend; however, EVERYONE is welcome to attend. For more information, or to reserve your tickets »

The Barra MacNeils are...

• Kyle ('85): vocals, guitar, violin, mandolin
• Lucy ('91): vocals, bodhran, Celtic harp, fiddle, step dancing
• Sheumas ('88): keyboards, piano, bodhran, fiddle, bouzouki, vocals
• Stewart ('87): vocals, accordion, tin whistle, flute, bouzouki, guitar, step dancing
• Boyd: mandolin, fiddle, guitar, banjo, percussion, step dancing
• Ryan: keyboards, percussion, uillian pipes, tin whistle, bodhran, step dancing
• Jamie Gatti: bass

As a group, the six MacNeil siblings are widely regarded as one of the greatest live concert acts in the Celtic world. Hailing from Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, the family group is deeply rooted in Celtic music, culture, dance, language and history. Their numerous critically acclaimed recordings have included their own original songs as well as tried and true standards, both instrumental and vocal.

http://www.barramacneils.com/

Test Yourself Challenge

Beginning January 2012, Alison (Crossman) Davidson ('94) will be running ten 10k races in 10 months for a total of 100k in an effort to raise $100k. These funds will be donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s CIBC Run for the Cure which is September 30^th 2012.

To help, you can buy a t-shirt or maybe two or three. All net profit will be donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. "You’ll look super hot and smart all while supporting breast cancer research. You’ll also be letting people know that you’re testing yourself and you expect others to do the same!"

Beginning in April you will also be able to donate directly to her once the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s website is up and running for the 2012 Run for the Cure. A donation button will be added at that time.

For more information, visit: http://testyourselfchallenge.com/
Or follow Alison's Twitter feed: @ten10kchallenge

GOOD LUCK, Alison!!

Former Mount Allison Archivist Writes Book

From the open-air ice surfaces of the marsh and the ponds to the excitement of the town's first-ever built wooden rink, to the pure enjoyment of costumed carnivals and school sports events, skating has a fascinating history in the Sackville community.

And that history is brought to life in former Mount Allison Archivist Donna Sullivan's new book, Skating on Steel-Shod Feet: Rinks and Skating in Sackville, New Brunswick.

With dozens of illustrations and photos, as well as countless newspaper accounts and plenty of personal stories from local residents, Sullivan has pulled together detailed descriptions of the rinks and highlights of the many and varied skating activities that took place in those buildings over the years.

Sullivan says the idea for writing the book has been a concept that has been brewing for nearly 30 years, ever since the day she first saw a photograph of the earliest enclosed skating rink in Sackville - as she found out later, the structure was the Tantramar rink which was built in 1876.

In 1998, she wrote a brief sketch on the history of rinks in the area but she was too busy at the time to go much farther with it. But her interest in the subject had certainly been piqued, and others were also becoming more curious about when and how skating had got its start in the area and how it has evolved over the years.

When she retired six years ago, she planned to do just that.

It wasn't until about two years ago when Sullivan says she finally made up her mind to take on the momentous task of finishing the research. Having lived in Sackville most of her life, and having worked as an archivist at the university for nearly 30 years, was definitely an advantage, she admits.

She believes that anyone who has ever been skating - whether it's through hockey, figure skating, or simply playing on the pond - has stories to tell about "what it's like to be on blades, and on the ice; it can be very exciting and thrilling."

Sullivan has dedicated her book to members of both the Sackville Citizens Band and the Sackville Fire Department who, for over a century, have served the citizens of their community, "going well beyond their roles as bandsmen and firemen at the Sackville rinks."

Read full story: History of skating in Sackville brought to life (Sackville Tribune Post)

Helping train Haitian doctors

Moncton native Dr. Henri Lanctin ('76) is helping change lives in Haiti. Henri, a urologist, is part of a group training Haitian doctors in modern surgical techniques, teaching them how to perform surgeries that will make a huge difference in the quality of life for many.

He graduated from Moncton High School in 1972, then did his undergraduate degree at Mount Allison. From there he went on to do a Master's in biochemistry at Memorial University, medical school at Dalhousie University, and an internship in Victoria, B.C. at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. He did his urology training at University of Ottawa, then practised in Kentville, N.S. for four years before moving to the U.S.

He and his wife have been living in Minnesota for the past 13 years, but his mother and one of his sisters still call Moncton home. In the last year, he has started a urology program in Haiti at the Hôpital Biénfaisance de Pignon and has joined Project Haiti as its vice-president.

Instead of simply performing surgeries for those who need them, Henri and his colleagues use cases to teach Haitian doctors new surgical techniques they can use to treat the patients themselves. A first teaching session focused on a condition in women called vesico-vaginal fistulas, a common condition in the developing world that occurs during child birth.

Haitian physicians are very open to working with them. The 2010 earthquake had a huge impact on medical services in Haiti. A number of physicians were killed, others lost their facilities, and the medical school as well as the medical school hospital were destroyed. He says they are planning to rebuild the medical school hospital, but that will take a few years, making the facility in Pignon even more important.

Read full story: Moncton native lends surgical skills to Haiti (Moncton Times & Transcript)