Beautiful Waters Lake Simcoe Art Auction Launches
Linda Wells
By Claire Malcolmson, Executive Director of the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition
Support clean water and local artists during international water week
Oro-Medonte, ON – Linda Wells has spent the summer meeting Lake Simcoe area artists and has brought many of their works together in one place for a month-long online art auction in support of the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition. Featured artists include Charles Pachter, Michael Scott, Richard Vandermeer, Gillian Lowry all from Orillia, and Susan Rudoler from Carthew Bay.
Those who have spent extra time on the shores of Lake Simcoe since the pandemic began to appreciate the beauty and calm of a quiet lake. Linda’s curated collection features canoes as a symbol of quiet reflection, observation, and oneness with our beautiful waters.
Above is Richard Vandermeer’s Yellow Canoe, 2020, Oil on Canvas, 12″ x 36″. Bids start at $750 for this gorgeous and evocative work. Read the artist bio here.
Although Vandermeer’s large oil painting Yellow Canoe opens at $750, interested art buyers need not be rich – this is an auction for everyone. There are limited edition giclee prints of Pachter’s “Shoreline” and Vandermeer’s “Three Boats” for sale as well. The RLSC has been selling water protector posters since 2018 too. These are strong, iconic First Nations designs made available by artists Christi Belcourt and Isaac Murdoch, for water protectors like the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition to sell in support of their water protector activities. (Migwiich!) The auction site also is selling blank greeting cards, featuring Vandermeer’s “Three Boats” and “Yellow Canoe” paintings.
“Beautiful Water” is one of the names given to Lake Simcoe by its original inhabitants, many of whom call the Lake home today. At the time of the first European contact in the 17th century Lake Simcoe was called Ouentironk (“Beautiful Water”) by the Wyandot (Huron) people.
“This art auction brings together beautiful art and people who want to sustain the lake’s life-giving waters so that all creatures and future generations can enjoy silent sports and nature appreciation,” says Linda Wells, Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition Board member and auction organizer. “Plus, it’s been great fun to meet these artists, share their art with the public, and bring more people into our cause,” she added.
After a year and a half of completely unpredictable hours of work the Coalition’s piggybank is low, but the environmental issues that need to be addressed keep growing. There are a host of development-related projects that threaten the Lake’s health. The Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition communicates with all levels of government about issues and solutions, and shares information and ideas with governments and the public. This year the Coalition is focusing on the Bradford Bypass highway plan; the impacts of growth planned to 2051 and opportunities for the public to voice their interests in Municipal Comprehensive Reviews; and the protection of Ontario’s Lake Simcoe Protection Act and Plan.
Beautiful Waters auction runs August 23rd to September 20th. Art and bidding is all online here: https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/auctions/Beautiful-Waters-25140
The auction link can also be found at www.RescueLakeSimcoe.org
The Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition is grateful to the artists for participating in this event and for sharing their love for Lake Simcoe with us all in their beautiful works of art.
Above is Michael Scott’s untitled oil on canvas, 2021. Bids start at $250 for this stunning work by a local up-and-coming artist. Find Scott’s bio here.
Here’s a scene we all know. Well known pop artist Charles Pachter comes to the aid of the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition again (thank you!) with giclee prints of “Shoreline”, 2021. More information about the art and artist here.
Oro-Medonte seems to be the land of artists. Susan Rudoler’s artworks feature the 8 Mile Point area and Carthew Bay. You can’t get more local than this. See more in her bio here.
Gillian Lowry blends geography and art in her unique print making work. This silkscreen print on paper and the artist hail from Orillia. Her 16″ x 20″ print pictured here starts at $95.
That’s not all. Posters, greeting cards, and more limited edition signed prints are for sale at the auction site. Get your art on now while supporting a great cause.
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