'New' OPEN STUDIO of MLHolton, Saturday, Sept.28th!

GREETINGS ALL - It's coming together, finally!

 

 

Happy to announce I will be taking part in 'Culture Days Canada 2024', a cross-country event showcasing Canadian talent from coast-to-coast-to-coast. It will be a limited event, one day only, on Saturday, September 28th, 2024, from 11am to 5pm. - Why only ONE DAY? In truth, I haven't exhibited in awhile and am a bit rusty ... :)

 

Photo - Copyright - MLHolton

I've decided to have this OPEN STUDIO at my new place to discern two things: 1) are any, in relative proximity, interested in what I have done to date & in what I might do yet? - ? - then, depending on that assessment, 2) I will determine how I will manifest and pursue my artistic practice going forward ... (aside from the on-going joy and pleasure associated with renovating, decorating and defining my fantastic new home/studio and 'space'!) - Meaning, this may be a 'one-off',  and thereafter, By Appointment Only.

 

The new studio 'space' IS taking shape. It houses an inventory of older works from beginnings in the 1970s, as well as works-in-progress - (ranging from hand-tinted black&white photo prints to experiments in soldering antique pewter to computational explorations in the AI 'craze') - as well as a comprehensive archive of supportive material from my decades of 'Canadian art making'.

 

In sum, it is my play room. It is the place where I can crank up a wide variety of music without offending the neighbours, spin in circles of joy or frustration, or, just sit - and continue to 'contemplate the eternal verities' ... The walls are crude and relatively bare, the floor is plywood, but the recently enlarged window and the newly-built deck provide immediate access to the 'outdoors'. There, I can see and FEEL the intoxicating immensity of the natural world all around me. Crickets chirp, birds sing, tree frogs burp, fox, squirrels, mink & chipmunks scamper. Wind constantly blows thorough the massive maples. The air smells SOOOO good here.  It is all so enchanting - and decidedly mysterious - under a full moon, especially when the fireflies emerge from the ferns ... Plus, just 400 feet away is my access to the mighty St.Lawrence River: work on that patch will continue later this fall. For now though, my focus is on the studio - and getting it ready for YOU! 

 

So, Mark Your Calendars: SAVE THE DATE! - Saturday, Sept 28th, 11am-5pm

 

If in the area, I am 5 minutes WEST of Brockville on the old river road. To those coming from afar, I am well-situated between the three main urban centres: Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. The drive here is pretty straight-forward from any of those directions. (The nearest international bridge is 20 minutes away. Zoom into the map via the link above or below to determine your best approach.)

 

EXACT address is: MLH @ The GATE HOUSE, 

1353 County Road 2 West, Elizabethtown, Ontario, Canada - K6V 7C7 - (NB: stone house & studio at the intersection of Watrus Bay Road)

 

Kindly note, I do not maintain a phone in my studio, nor is it wheelchair accessible. There isn't a public washroom here, nor is this a 'drop-in' cafe or bar ... So, please stock-up & discharge before getting here. That said, if invited and visiting with me at my HOME, all amenities & frivolities will be provided, free-of-charge. ;)

The St.Lawrence River really is a fascinating bi-national waterway linking the freshwater discharge from the Great Lakes basin to the Atlantic ocean, 743 miles away. Along route, birch-bark canoes, tall ships, and modern-day cargo ships have plied timber, furs and intercontinental household goods to the people of this vast land mass.

 

The surrounding area, in this south-eastern end of the province of Ontario, is visibly rich in early colonial history. 

 

Daily, I learn more of the varied indigenous people, the intrepid French voyageurs heading West and North, the skilled Scotch stonemasons and determined Welsh and Irish settlers of Upper Canada, the dispersal of military land grants to American allies of the British Crown after the War of 1812  - and our current American neighbours so close across the river ... There is PLENTY to take-in here.

So, join me, won't you, for a pleasant day, (rain or shine), along the river ... See what I've been up to in the past, and what I'm mucking around with now. Your attendance, and interest will, to a great degree, help determine my future endeavours ... Hope to see you soon! 

 

SATURDAY, Sept. 28th, 11am-5pm - MLH @ The GATE HOUSE.

LINK: A CULTURE DAYS 2024  'In Person'  EVENT. 

 

Margaret Lindsay Holton

Canadian Artist & Author 

... from my perch on the St.Lawrence River ...

 

Greetings from MLH!! - Spring Newsletter 2024

HELLO ALL! – FINALLY!! - Some time to properly catch-up on the last two years!!

Childhood Home and Family Farm: Stoneacres - plus me & mum over the years ...

As many of you know, dear old mum died peacefully at home in her 96^th year in February of 2022. Since then, my brothers and me worked for over a year to close down our family farm perched on the Niagara Escarpment overlooking Lake Ontario. As you can well imagine, this was an emotionally demanding and difficult process. Seventy good years of ‘stuff’ had to be sorted, packed-up, distributed, sold and/or stored away. Childhood toboggans and skies, abandoned farming implements, hundreds of tools, old curtains & rugs, even our old school uniforms, etc,: - EVERYTHING had to GO!

In February of last year, my parents’ beautiful old house and my childhood home, sold. Yes, it was all very bitter-sweet. Yet, rather than mop-about, I got moving. Literally.

My New Pad

On June 1^st, 2024, I purchased my first - and hopefully last! - home in Elizabethtown, a charming river-side hamlet in the Eastern Townships of Ontario. 

It is very picturesque around here. This 1830s sandstone farmhouse is situated on 1.5 acres - with 25 feet of frontage on the mighty St. Lawrence River. The river access is completely overgrown at the moment and the house was pretty run-down when I moved in. (Bucket under the kitchen sink!!) 

Summer & fall of last year was spent pulling it all together as you can see in this BEFORE/AFTER link. Renovations and just ‘moving-in’ consumed my full attention well into March of this year ...

Today, on my 69^th Birthday, (yeah me), I can finally say the worst is over. Phew. - The actual ENJOYMENT of this PLACE and SPACE can now truly begin. To wit, landscaping of the grounds and planting of flower and veggie gardens are next … O’JOY! - MUD!!  Glorious MUD!!

The Eastern Townships are super rich in early Canadian history. There are beguiling back-stories and plenty of supportive, family-friendly locals. I am certain there will be many good years of exploring and pleasure ahead.  

That said, as an active artist, I am not entirely sure, yet, what new paintings or artworks may manifest. There are a few clues ... This new location offers crystal clear night skies and bubbling riverside waters. Multiple and varied songbirds fill the air at dawn and dusk. A lovely fit fox crossed my lawn two weeks ago. There’s a sleek black mink tucked-in the woodlot at the back ...

I can certainly FEEL it ALL coming to the FOREGROUND now ... we'll see ... 

For the curious, I did finish a few indoor design projects over the winter months: sorting then applying mum’s exotic shell collection to two mirror frames, varnished my earlier painting of the dining room floor in an 'Elizabethan' pattern -and designed & upholstered two headboards. And, I have a new sketchbook of pencil portrait drawings underway. (Not my strength, FOR SURE, but I'm enjoying the process of learning what and what not to do ... )

New River Rat finds a Good Den ...

So, that’s it. 😊  - I am HOME now - and increasingly settled … You can follow along with my house and property ‘make-over’ on Instagram.

All those interested in my artwork or writing are most welcome to come visit The Gate House, aka ‘Lindsay’s Place’, in the months and years ahead. Just email to let me know what day and time you might be coming - at ‘lynholton’ at GMAIL dot com. 

Consider this a STANDING INVITATION.

For those with genuine interest in my life & work, my front gate will ALWAYS be OPEN:

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm,  (Weekends are reserved for family & house guests.) 

Hope to see you anytime!

A list of my recent books of art, poetry & prose  - (18 titles+ to date) - as well as a link to the 'still-going-strong' short film, The Frozen Goose, can be found here. Also, please do check out this recent 5-star review of my short story collection, Sticks and Stones, by Jennie Griffin of RedHeadNotes )

Recent 5-star review of Sticks and Stones + 'New Beginnings', Watercolour by MLH - SOLD

                                                     It really IS a whole NEW BEGINNING! 

                                                                Blessings to you all!

                                 Margaret Lindsay Holton --  Canadian Artist & Author

p.s. Some of you have very kindly sent ‘House Warming’ Gifts. - I really have enjoyed these unexpected kindnesses: THANK YOU! - For those who might like to consider it, yes, I am still in need of a few useful items … like a T50 staple-gun, a wheelbarrow tire pump, and - I need a small ironing board! - (Who knew?!)  -- If you would like to send on a wee something to celebrate this new chapter, an Amazon Gift Card really is the best. It avoids duplication and can help when needed most. Kindly forward to ‘lynholton’ at GMAIL dot com. --- Thank you! :) 

Margaret Lindsay Holton - Canadian Artist & Award-winning Author

                                 Now, get out there  - ENJOY this wonder-filled SPRING !! – mlh