From June 21-22, Parks Canada, IATNL, and Ocean Quest Adventures presented the second annual Art & Adventure Festival in Gros Morne National Park. The 2-day event included a fine art exhibit at the park’s Discovery Center in Woody Point, nightly entertainment, and half-day hikes on the western side of the park.
(L-R) IATNL Vice Chair Arne Helgeland, Gros Morne National Park Promotions Officer Kim Vokey, and IAT Art Collective Artists Jackie Alcock, Georgina Payne, Trudy Campbell, Karole Pittman, and Anne LeMessurier Pinsent. Missing from photo, artists Chrissie Kerr, Jamie-Lee Cormier, Alli Johnston, Sandra Hewitt-Parsons, and Kris Oravec
Above and below are examples of the beautiful artwork on exhibit. Tablelands views by – in order – Trudy Campbell, Anne LeMessurier Pinsent, and Georgina Payne.
The theme for the art exhibit is ‘Footprints,’ in association with the upcoming Tribute to Scottish American Conservationist John Muir at the 2013 IAT AGM in Balloch, Scotland in September.
The inaugural A&A Festival took place in June 2012 and was a successful and fun-filled event, held with good weather, fine art, and great camaraderie. The second A&A continued the festivities.
After opening the art exhibit then dining at the Old Loft Restaurant in Woody Point,
the scene moved next door to the Merchant Warehouse for a few refreshments and live entertainment by Ocean Quest Adventure’s Ryan Young,
before shuffling to the nearby branch of the Canadian Legion for a toe tapping ugly stick time
with music by the guitar playing accordion squeezing duo of Bill Coates and Sean Payne.
The second day of the festival was clear and sunny, but unfortunately brought high winds to Trout River Pond, canceling the zodiac tours and shuttles to Overfalls Trail. However this provided hikers an opportunity to explore other trails in the area, including IAT Chairperson Paul Wylezol who made an exploratory trek of the Greater Green Gardens. This route begins with the Eastern Point Trail at the northeast end of the community of Trout River,
then meanders along the barren and scrub hillside overlooking the Gulf of St Lawrence to the first “green garden”, a coastal grassland where local sheep farmers historically brought their sheep to graze freely for the summer months. From there the route continues northeast along the coast until it connects to Gros Morne National Park’s Green Gardens Trail, which provides an exit back to the highway and community, enabling a 5-6 hour hiking loop. (See related story, ‘The Historic Green Gardens Trail’)
The second evening of the festival started with dinner at the Seaside Restaurant in Trout River,
where overlooking the beach and boardwalk, entertainer Charlie Payne played accordion for the hungry audience.
The activities later moved outside to a bonfire on the beach
fireworks above the boardwalk (nicely orchestrated by IATNL Finance Director Kevin Noseworthy)
and a full moon in the sky!
What a finish to the 2013 Art & Adventure Festival!!
