Saturday June 30: Artists host second annual Mega-Quarry Paint-In
Artists at their easels, area bus tour, live music await the public north of Shelburne
NDACT news release June 25 2012
Hornings Mills ON – For the second year, dozens of artists are gathering in Hornings Mills, north of Shelburne, to capture the landscape threatened by the proposed Highland mega-quarry.
The Paint-In ‘At the Headwaters’ is taking place from 11 am to 3pm this Saturday, June 30th at a home on the edge of a small lake in Hornings Mills.
The public is invited to visit the unique property, watch the artists at work, have the chance to purchase art, and enjoy live music and free bus tours of the scenic and historic region known as the Hills of Headwaters.
Paintings by celebrated artists Peter Adams, Cory Trepanier and others will become part of future exhibits. Proceeds will go towards the campaign to stop the mega quarry.
NDACT (North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce) Chairman and rancher Carl Cosack will lead the bus tours. “When people walk the fields and visit the rivers, they understand why we’re trying to preserve Ontario’s best agricultural land and the aquifer beneath it,” says Cosack. “This land and its water should be protected in perpetuity, not harmed in perpetuity.”
The Highland Companies – backed by Baupost, a $24-billion Boston hedge fund – is seeking to excavate the largest quarry in Canadian history. It would span 2,316 acres and plunge 200 feet below the water table. Prime farmland would be destroyed and 600 million litres of water would be pumped from the site—a headwaters area for 5 river systems—each day in perpetuity.
“The Highland Companies continues to show little respect for the heritage and culture of this beautiful area. It has destroyed 31 farmsteads, some dating back to the 1850s,” says Sandi Wong, co-founder of Artists Against the Mega Quarry. “The Paint-In takes place at a century-old property in an historic village. It will celebrate this community’s heritage and demonstrate why a mega quarry in its midst is wrong.”
The public is encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and a cup to the Paint-In. There will be a lemonade stand and fresh water available on site!
Date: Saturday, June 30th (Rain date – Sunday, July 1st) 11:00am – 3:00pm
Place: “Wallyngton”, 132 Main Street, Hornings Mills, Melancthon
For more information, please visit www.artistsagainstthemegaquarry.com or contact Sandi
Wong sandiwongartist@gmail.com.
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