By Butch (The Beast) McLarty
LONDON, ON -- Barry Callow, director of the Philip Aziz Foundation of Art, is planning a canoe trip (involving several canoes) down the Thames River this June -- from the Kensington Bridge at the forks of the Thames to Lighthouse Cove on Lake St. Clair north of Tilbury -- to commemorate the same trip in 1877 by acclaimed London artist Paul Peel, William Lee Judson (Peel's art instructor in London) and Col. John Walker.
The recreated journey is expected to take about a week.
A book about the 1877 trip was published in 1881 by Advertiser Steam Presses on
Richmond Street
in London Ontario. It was written under the pseudonym of "Professor Blot" (William Lee Judson).
The 140-page book, with dozens of illustrations by a young Paul Peel, contains descriptions of their experiences, including their encounters with local people, camp sites, the conditions and scenery of the river and environs and its flora and fauna.
Of particular interest in the book is the chapter about the legendary "Wishing Well" cascade just west of Kilworth, after which a former London bottling and soft drink company was named.
The same journey 130 years later will be a fundraiser for the
United Way
and the Philip Aziz Foundation of Art.
Participating in the venture will be three artists and three paddlers who will also be documenting the sights of the Thames River as seen in June of 2007.
Callow says that he'd "also like to have a Pram built -- a flat bottom wooden river boat -- to accompany the three canoes."
"Talks are under way with Brian Meehan, the executive director of Museum London, to MC an opening of Paul Peels works which would be curated by Mrs. Nancy Poole an expert on the artistic works of Paul Peel and also a former executive director of Museum London," says Callow.
"The next morning after the opening, our trip would proceed from the forks of the Thames with certain dignitaries from the City, arts community and media being invited to our departure.
"It is hoped that upon our return to London that all those involved could display their sketches at Museum London and auction off these pieces for the
United Way
and the Philip Aziz Foundation of Art. We would also like to have a narrative description of our tour of the Thames afterwards," explains Callow.
Confirmed participants to date in the 195-km trip down the river are paddlers Barry Calllow, London lawyer Paul Lesarge, London artists Brenda Toso and Morhag Webster Lesarge.
Mrs. Nancy Poole and Philip Aziz have also agreed to embark with the group in canoes from the forks down to CPRI near Byron.
To date, the growing lists of sponsors or partners include:
* Nova Craft Canoes of London
* Novack Outfitters of London
* Mr. John Eberhardt of the London Canoe Club
* Mr. Doug Bocking of the Thames River Heritage Committee
* Tourism London
* several community groups in Chatham, Ontario, including Tourism Chatham.
* Alt-London
INFORMATION: For more information or to help sponsor this exciting arts-and-cultural-related event call Barry Callow at 519-438-9001 or e-mail barry@philipaziz.org.
