Grace MacPherson

With Labour Day behind us our artists are all busy getting ready for the Tour ....

Always popular at their studio are Grace's hand painted original bookmarks.
She is busy painting and assembling them.

She also shares a new painting. 

Blowing in the Wind (C) Grace MacPherson 2015

Make sure to stop by Studio # 15 on this years Tour. 

Three Generations of artists at this location; Grace, daughter Diana Bullock and granddaughter 

Allison Bullock 

Sketchbook Project

Three of our members have participated in the Sketchbook Project  

"The project is an independent Brooklyn-based company that organizes global, collaborative art projects. Our flagship endeavour is The Sketchbook Project, a crowd-sourced library that features 33,844 artists' books contributed by creative people from 135+ countries."

Allison Bullock participated in 2013 and here is the link to her book
Diana Bullock participated in 2014.... the link to her book

In 2015 Diana created another book  ..... the link to this sketchbook  
and Grace MacPherson created a book also ..... the link is here

These books all become part of the permanent Sketchbook Project in Brooklyn, New York however this coming weekend the books created in 2015 will be part of a mobile library that will be visiting the GTA. If you are in Oakville Ontario or the Distillery District of Toronto make a point to stop for a few moments and check out this unique collection. This is the last year the mobile library will be travelling to different locations. In the future the books will be available to view in Brooklyn or on line. 

More information is here August 27th in Oakville and August 28th - 30th in Toronto 

Grace MacPherson (C) 2015

Diana Bullock (C) 2015

Remembrance Day

Today is a day of Remembrance. We are sharing this story again first published on this blog a few years ago.  


Studio Tour artist Grace MacPherson shares memories of her experience serving Canada during World War II. 


July 1943, Grace MacPherson was 18 year old Grace Gauntlett...

Studio Tour artist Grace MacPherson, RCAF WD, 1943-45

"If you had good marks in your final year at school, you could leave early to join the Armed Forces. I went and saw a film, “We Serve That Men May Fly.” It was all about serving in the Air Force, and I thought that if I enlisted I would be sent to England. My brother John was in the RAF and was ferrying planes between Lagos and Britain. Later he was posted to Burma. At age 18, I enlisted and my mother didn’t really approve of what I was doing.

The Air Force was recruiting women to take over jobs, allowing the men to serve overseas. I was happy to be chosen for training as an operational clerk. This was a very selective course and top secret. We would be getting information from radar stations and plotting it on grid maps so they could be identified as friend or foe.

The enlistment poster that inspired Grace to join

We heard we were going to the West Coast, Victoria and were stationed in a lovely old home. It was at one time earmarked as a government house. It was called Kildonan House in the ritzy Rock Bay area. The officers lived in the house and we had barracks, which were built on the extensive grounds.

We had four shifts; the operational room had to be manned 24 hours a day. I was on D shift and about 12 of us living and working together became a happy family. We had a lot of time off, as the work was considered stressful, and our work area was located in the basement of the Belmont Building, across from the Empress Hotel. I would have to be checked by service police when I entered and left.

We were connected to several isolated radar stations on the West Coast: information was relayed to us by radio telegram. We plotted it in on a grid map. If the identification couldn’t be made, Fighter Control would send up an aircraft to check. Sometimes a plane from the training base would get lost and it was through the radar and the Filter Ops that they were located and saved. Another time a plane went off course and was headed for the mountains, and they were alerted on time. There was an aircraft detection post on top of the Belmont Building, and we manned it during the day shift. We had to identify, if we could, anything that we saw. We also took calls from civilians who were also looking out for aircraft activity.

Our time off gave us the opportunity to travel up and down the island, to Vancouver and to the States. Our commanding officer would give us a letter of introduction, and we could go and get second priority on the planes. First priority was the wounded. We flew from Seattle to California and across to St. Louis. Another time we just hitchhiked. Everyone was kind to those in uniform. We never had any trouble we couldn’t handle.

Here, Grace (2nd from the right) and her fellow WDs pose for a photo that later appeared in the newspaper.

Once coming home on leave I used every form of transportation: ferry, train, plane, bus, and hitchhiking. Stopping at Thunder Bay, and looking out of the window, I saw the faces of young, fair-haired boys waiting in the bus beside us. They were German POWs waiting to be transferred to one of the camps. 

 VJ-Day came and we paraded in Victoria. It was an exciting day for everyone. We went to a service at Beacon Hill Park—lots of service personnel there. The speeches were getting a bit too long so someone set fire to the grass and that caused a diversion. There was a big dance in one of the hangars. Aircraft took off and bombed the station with toilet paper!

Shortly after, I was given my discharge and I went to Vancouver for the final paperwork. I received $210 for my two-and-a-half years in the service. I was happy to be going home, though not regretting one moment I spent in the Air Force, to serve “that men may fly.” Maybe I didn’t get to England, but I found good friends, travelled across Canada by train and the United States courtesy of the government. We were told that our presence on the West Coast saved many lives, and prevented many serious accidents and loss of life."
  

In 2008 Grace attended a WD reunion in Ottawa; she stands beside a WD plaque that was unveiled at the War Museum

To Grace and the thousands of other Canadians who have served, we thank you.

Three Generations

On our tour again this year are three generations of one family........ At Diana Bullock's location along with her work in mixed media, Sumi-e [Japanese ink painting]  you will find watercolours by Grace MacPherson, her mother and multi media work by her daughter Allison.

This is the link to the article in  Good Life magazine from earlier this year. Grace turned 90 this past summer, still paints and has many new pieces.

Diana has been also very busy with several different media types

And Allison's work has taken a striking new direction 

Something lurks

Their Studio location is #15 on this years tour. Stop by and say hello!

Art Times 3

Studio Tour artists Grace MacPherson, Diana Bullock and Allison Bullock were the subject of a recent article in Good Life Magazine York Region Edition. For the complete magazine please visit here  and scroll down to the York Region edition at the bottom of the page.

Here is the article

All credits to Good Life Magazine

Picture of artists by Mary Cook 

Images of art (c) the artists

How will you remember?

This is a repeat of a post from last year. 
Thanks to Studio Tour artist Grace MacPherson for sharing her memories of
her experience serving Canada during World War II. 


In 1943, Grace MacPherson was Grace Gauntlett...

Studio Tour artist Grace MacPherson, RCAF WD, 1943-45

"If you had good marks in your final year at school, you could leave early to join the Armed Forces. I went and saw a film, “We Serve That Men May Fly.” It was all about serving in the Air Force, and I thought that if I enlisted I would be sent to England. My brother John was in the RAF and was ferrying planes between Lagos and Britain. Later he was posted to Burma. At age 18, I enlisted and my mother didn’t really approve of what I was doing.

The Air Force was recruiting women to take over jobs, allowing the men to serve overseas. I was happy to be chosen for training as an operational clerk. This was a very selective course and top secret. We would be getting information from radar stations and plotting it on grid maps so they could be identified as friend or foe.

The enlistment poster that inspired Grace to join

We heard we were going to the West Coast, Victoria and were stationed in a lovely old home. It was at one time earmarked as a government house. It was called Kildonan House in the ritzy Rock Bay area. The officers lived in the house and we had barracks, which were built on the extensive grounds.

We had four shifts; the operational room had to be manned 24 hours a day. I was on D shift and about 12 of us living and working together became a happy family. We had a lot of time off, as the work was considered stressful, and our work area was located in the basement of the Belmont Building, across from the Empress Hotel. I would have to be checked by service police when I entered and left.

We were connected to several isolated radar stations on the West Coast: information was relayed to us by radio telegram. We plotted it in on a grid map. If the identification couldn’t be made, Fighter Control would send up an aircraft to check. Sometimes a plane from the training base would get lost and it was through the radar and the Filter Ops that they were located and saved. Another time a plane went off course and was headed for the mountains, and they were alerted on time. There was an aircraft detection post on top of the Belmont Building, and we manned it during the day shift. We had to identify, if we could, anything that we saw. We also took calls from civilians who were also looking out for aircraft activity.

Our time off gave us the opportunity to travel up and down the island, to Vancouver and to the States. Our commanding officer would give us a letter of introduction, and we could go and get second priority on the planes. First priority was the wounded. We flew from Seattle to California and across to St. Louis. Another time we just hitchhiked. Everyone was kind to those in uniform. We never had any trouble we couldn’t handle.

Here, Grace (2nd from the right) and her fellow WDs pose for a photo that later appeared in the newspaper.

Once coming home on leave I used every form of transportation: ferry, train, plane, bus, and hitchhiking. Stopping at Thunder Bay, and looking out of the window, I saw the faces of young, fair-haired boys waiting in the bus beside us. They were German POWs waiting to be transferred to one of the camps.

 VJ-Day came and we paraded in Victoria. It was an exciting day for everyone. We went to a service at Beacon Hill Park—lots of service personnel there. The speeches were getting a bit too long so someone set fire to the grass and that caused a diversion. There was a big dance in one of the hangars. Aircraft took off and bombed the station with toilet paper!

Shortly after, I was given my discharge and I went to Vancouver for the final paperwork. I received $210 for my two-and-a-half years in the service. I was happy to be going home, though not regretting one moment I spent in the Air Force, to serve “that men may fly.” Maybe I didn’t get to England, but I found good friends, travelled across Canada by train and the United States courtesy of the government. We were told that our presence on the West Coast saved many lives, and prevented many serious accidents and loss of life."
 

In 2008 Grace attended a WD reunion in Ottawa; she stands beside a WD plaque that was unveiled at the War Museum

To Grace and the thousands of other Canadians who have served, we thank you.

Grace MacPherson

Grace MacPherson has done many things in her life including serving in WWII in the Canadian Air Force.

She didn't begin painting until she retired and discovered her love of watercolours. Her delicate paintings have won numerous awards and she continues to be a very prolific artist.

Stop by and see Grace's work along with her daughter and granddaughter at Studio 15 on this years Tour

Country Home

Grace MacPherson

Tour artist Grace MacPherson is part of this show.
The Art Guild of Scarborough is celebrating their 50th year

Drop by and see some great art.

How Will You Remember?

Today is a day of Remembrance.

We asked Studio Tour artist Grace MacPherson if she would share memories of her experience serving Canada during World War II. 


In 1943, Grace MacPherson was 18 year old Grace Gauntlett...

Studio Tour artist Grace MacPherson, RCAF WD, 1943-45

"If you had good marks in your final year at school, you could leave early to join the Armed Forces. I went and saw a film, “We Serve That Men May Fly.” It was all about serving in the Air Force, and I thought that if I enlisted I would be sent to England. My brother John was in the RAF and was ferrying planes between Lagos and Britain. Later he was posted to Burma. At age 18, I enlisted and my mother didn’t really approve of what I was doing.

The Air Force was recruiting women to take over jobs, allowing the men to serve overseas. I was happy to be chosen for training as an operational clerk. This was a very selective course and top secret. We would be getting information from radar stations and plotting it on grid maps so they could be identified as friend or foe.

The enlistment poster that inspired Grace to join

We heard we were going to the West Coast, Victoria and were stationed in a lovely old home. It was at one time earmarked as a government house. It was called Kildonan House in the ritzy Rock Bay area. The officers lived in the house and we had barracks, which were built on the extensive grounds.

We had four shifts; the operational room had to be manned 24 hours a day. I was on D shift and about 12 of us living and working together became a happy family. We had a lot of time off, as the work was considered stressful, and our work area was located in the basement of the Belmont Building, across from the Empress Hotel. I would have to be checked by service police when I entered and left.

We were connected to several isolated radar stations on the West Coast: information was relayed to us by radio telegram. We plotted it in on a grid map. If the identification couldn’t be made, Fighter Control would send up an aircraft to check. Sometimes a plane from the training base would get lost and it was through the radar and the Filter Ops that they were located and saved. Another time a plane went off course and was headed for the mountains, and they were alerted on time. There was an aircraft detection post on top of the Belmont Building, and we manned it during the day shift. We had to identify, if we could, anything that we saw. We also took calls from civilians who were also looking out for aircraft activity.

Our time off gave us the opportunity to travel up and down the island, to Vancouver and to the States. Our commanding officer would give us a letter of introduction, and we could go and get second priority on the planes. First priority was the wounded. We flew from Seattle to California and across to St. Louis. Another time we just hitchhiked. Everyone was kind to those in uniform. We never had any trouble we couldn’t handle.

Here, Grace (2nd from the right) and her fellow WDs pose for a photo that later appeared in the newspaper.

Once coming home on leave I used every form of transportation: ferry, train, plane, bus, and hitchhiking. Stopping at Thunder Bay, and looking out of the window, I saw the faces of young, fair-haired boys waiting in the bus beside us. They were German POWs waiting to be transferred to one of the camps.

 VJ-Day came and we paraded in Victoria. It was an exciting day for everyone. We went to a service at Beacon Hill Park—lots of service personnel there. The speeches were getting a bit too long so someone set fire to the grass and that caused a diversion. There was a big dance in one of the hangars. Aircraft took off and bombed the station with toilet paper!

Shortly after, I was given my discharge and I went to Vancouver for the final paperwork. I received $210 for my two-and-a-half years in the service. I was happy to be going home, though not regretting one moment I spent in the Air Force, to serve “that men may fly.” Maybe I didn’t get to England, but I found good friends, travelled across Canada by train and the United States courtesy of the government. We were told that our presence on the West Coast saved many lives, and prevented many serious accidents and loss of life."
 

In 2008 Grace attended a WD reunion in Ottawa; she stands beside a WD plaque that was unveiled at the War Museum

To Grace and the thousands of other Canadians who have served, we thank you.

This weekend...

A very busy weekend for our Studio Tour artists! The Beyond Craft has begun in Stouffville and three of our artists are taking part, and the Cynthia Cupples sale with one more; additional information can be found in the previous post. 

In addition, Grace MacPherson's work will be at Cedar Ridge Creative Centre 225 Confederation Drive  in Scarborough on Sunday. 

There are a lot of places to see art work and maybe do some holiday shopping; support the local arts community!

Grace MacPherson

Grace is a very prolific watercolour painter only starting to paint when she retired over 20 years ago. Still going strong in her late 80's her watercolours have won awards and hang in collections all over North America. 

She will have many new paintings in this years Tour. Stop by Studio #10 to see her work, her daughter Diana and granddaughter Allison.

Arthur / Free Spirit Show

Congratulations to Studio Tour artist Grace MacPherson.

One of her paintings was selected for the Art Guild of Scarborough Free/ Spirit Arthur Show May 19 to June 1, details here. 

Opening Sunday May 20th 1 pm to 4 pm

Don't miss this show. 

Magenta

Grace MacPherson

Grace MacPherson is part of a family of three generations of artists that are members of the Stouffville Studio Tour.  In her late 80’s she is a prolific artist who still enjoys painting in watercolours.

She has always been interested in the creative arts and pursued her interest in watercolour painting since her retirement from the business world. Grace attended workshops with many prominent artists through the Elderhostel program, classes at the Haliburton School of Fine Art, and the Loyalist College, Bridgewater Retreat.

She is an active member of the Art Guild of Scarborough, Cedar Ridge Creative Arts Centre, Kinmount and Area Artisans Guild and Scarborough Arts. Her paintings have appeared in juried shows and won several awards including Best in Show.

Images from the Haliburton Highlands where her family roots reach back to the early pioneers is a constant source of material. Traveling coast-to-coast in Canada, and visiting Montaigut-le-blanc (France), Israel, and the Caribbean has also been a great inspiration.

Grace has lived in Scarborough over 50 years. She enjoys her family and all the opportunities retirement has offered.

Glowing

To see Grace’s latest work don’t miss the Art Guild of Scarborough 50^th Anniversary Show this upcoming weekend. 

Centennial Recreation Centre, 

1967 Ellesmere Rd., Scarborough

http://theartguildofscarborough.com