Scenes of Sandbanks and Beyond – original art celebrates The County

Jim Champagne and Gail Richardson discuss the retrospective works of the late Gerry Putman featured at the Scenes of Sandbanks show and sale. This year’s show is dedicated to his memory.

Celebrating all that is County – particularly its three provincial parks and the burgeoning wine industry – is the 13th annual Scenes of Sandbanks and Beyond original art show and sale.

This year’s show is dedicated to the late Gerry Putman as featured artist.

“Gerry Putman was one of the first artists to agree to be in the show in 2001 and participated on a regular basis in the following years,” said Evelyn Sloane, a show organizer with her husband Doug. “His untimely passing this year has left a large space in our community. Bawn Putnam has graciously agreed to allow us to have a retrospective of Gerry’s work during the show and offer some of his works for sale. The Friends of Sandbanks Park are honoured to dedicate 2012 Scenes of Sandbanks and Beyond to his memory.”

The original Scenes of Sandbanks show evolved through a series of conversations with a small group of people interested in connecting the beauty of Sandbanks Provincial Park with the creativity of artists in Prince Edward County. The art show was held for a few years at Maple Rest Heritage House for one weekend only in early November. In 2007, it moved to Black Prince Winery and the premise of the show was expanded to promote the scenic beauty and the historical significance of The County, including Sandbanks Provincial Park, Lake on the Mountain and North Beach.

As well as the Gerry Putman retrospective, more than 60 works of art that celebrate the historical and pictorial uniqueness, changing seasons and the burgeoning wine industry of The County are being presented Friday through Sunday from 11a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Black Prince ‘Art Cellar’ 13370 Loyalist Parkway in Picton.

The originals represents a variety of mediums including watercolour, oil, acrylic, photography, fibre and encaustic to name but a few.

“The diversity of the art work provides an interesting mix for every buyer and every budget,” says Evelyn.

The Friends of Sandbanks will direct the show’s proceeds toward the future Lakeshore Trail in Sandbanks Provincial Park.

Sandbanks boasts the largest fresh-water sand dune system in the world. This bar of mountainous sand dunes, some as high as 25 metres, was created over many centuries as prevailing westerly winds washed deposits inland from Lake Ontario, left behind by the retreat of the glaciers some 12,000 years ago.

Long before Sandbanks became a provincial park it was attracting thousands of visitors each year. The East Lake Sector, formerly known as “The Outlet”, became a provincial park in 1959; the West Lake Sector, earlier known as “The Sandbanks”, joined the provincial park system in 1962. In 1979, the provincial government purchased additional land between the two parks, and the entire area comprising 1,600 hectares, was amalgamated into today’s Sandbanks Provincial Park.