The three year old Deanna colouring with her childhood friend.
When I’m asked how long have you been making art? I pause as the question seems the same as someone asking how long I’ve had my hands. But asking when I did I begin to believe in myself as an artist? An entirely different question.
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The Journey to Remembrance continues its own journey as I have loaned the painting indefinitely at The Military Museums of Calgary as I seek a buyer.
I love the symbolism of where the painting is currently being displayed. As one leaves The Founder's Gallery, the image appears in the distance. Walking towards these soldiers, the viewer begins to walk with them until reaching the painting to contemplate their own journey to remembrance.
Perhaps this journey for some begins very quickly...for people like myself, those ah ha moments take time to become tangible. Then they are so tangible that wearing the poppy no longer feels like quite enough and there is an urgency to do more.
Completing The Journey to Remembrance was a 10 month experience. During this time of working on the 5ft x 6ft painting, I took progressive photos that I have combined to create a photo journal showing the "journey" of creating the painting.
As you can see my sky started out completely different! After deciding it was far too dark and ominous, it required a major re-do. Further descriptions can be found on each photo in my album on my Deanna Lavoie - Artist facebook page.
My family and I have returned from an incredible trip to Somme, France. We were able to visit both the Canadian Beaumont-Hamel and Courcelette memorials. Walking onto Beaumont-Hamel, I felt as I had truly arrived back in Canada. The park-like setting is both haunting and peaceful at the same time. The young Canadian men and women caretakers are knowledgeable guides and it's hard to put into words the emotions that washed over me. “Being there” is enormous as to reading one’s history and simply knowing. I am pleased that my husband and I had brought our children there and very proud of the Newfoundland regiment’s memorial that Canada has made. The Courcelette memorial is surrounded by Maple trees and well maintained. It is a place of contemplation considering the sacrifices that were made by those Canadians. The words that circumference the memorial read "Honour to Canadians who on the fields of Flanders and of France fought in the cause of the Allies with sacrifice and devotion."
We will remember them.
© Deanna Lavoie
