Regional artists / artisans

Article by Shannon Burns, Indian Time, Akwesasne

Allan Herne has learned a thing or two about venison, or deer meat, throughout his life-time. The avid hunter has successfully hunted at least 500 deer over the years and he’s learned how to cook along the way as well. Recently, Herne released his own cookbook to share with others all he’s learned about venison cooking. “Venison Recipes from the Antler Den” is Herne’s personal collection of recipes he’s been sharing with friends and family for years.

“I’ve always done a lot of hunting right from where I was as a kid,” said Herne, now retired from the mental health profession. “My grandfather taught me everything about hunting and I learned about cooking from my mom.”

Herne has a true array of dishes in his cookbook that turn out perfectly tender venison. From venison hash to venison burger, there is so much that can be done with venison meat and Hearne wants others to enjoy it as much as he does. “Venison is so lean it cooks faster, he said. “A lot of people overcook it and it gets tough and then people say, “It tastes like leather!

Herne who says he rarely eat beef, said his recipes were developed by taste. His mother had a Mohawk saying when he was growing up and that meant “Taste it - if it’s good, it’s good”. So, the recipes in “Venison, from the Antler Den” have been tried, retested and perfected.“What I wanted to do was try and make it easy to cook,” Herne said. “It’s simple and you can make an awesome wild game meal”.

While the cookbook focuses on venison Herne has experience cooking with all types of wild game food. He spends the hunting seasons at this cam in the Brasher State Forrest he’s dubbed “The Antler’s Den” and it is decorated top to bottom with hunted related furnishings and Herne’s personal antler collection.

“When you’re out there,” It’s just beautiful, you see everything come alive”, he said.
After hunting a deer Herne said he always burn tobacco and says a prayer thanking the Creator and whishing the deer well on its journey.

The “Venison Recipes from the Antler Den” can be purchased at the Bear’s Den Gift Shop, at the Akwesasne Museum or by emailing Herne at jhall005@twcny.rr.com .

Audrey is an award winning “plein air” painter. Her love of art reflects her response of the people and images of rural Ontario, rolling hills and snows of Charlevoix, summer outports of Newfoundland, quaint Laurentian villages and the colours of Algonquin autumn. Audrey graduated, Diploma in Visual and Creative Arts with distinction 1982, S.L.C other studies include Montreal Museum, Doone, Schneider and Ottawa Schools of Art and portrait and figure study at Sadie Bronfman.

Extract from Indian Time May 13, 2010

Article by Mary La France

Ben Benedict is a lifelong resident of Akwesasne and avid wood worker and craftsman. His waterfowl wood carvings were recently honoured at the 2010 War World Championships, Wildfowl Carving Competition and Art Festival held April 23rd and 25th in Ocean City, MD. He entered three original sculptures and won best of show for his astonishing piece “Raptor Vision”.

Benedict began carving 18 years ago and said his skill just blossomed ever since. He has entered his works in various carving completions across the US and Canada taking best of show at many, including: best of show in Montreal in 2003, best of show in Ottawa in 2006 and first place at Canadian National Championships 2007.

Last year, Benedict entered a piece called “Song Bird” that won second in the World show. This year he entered three pieces made from an impressive red bay drift wood that came all the way from NC. His pieces were delicate and intricate making it hard to believe that each piece was meticulously carved using a single piece of drift wood.

“It is very rewarding,: said Benedict about his most recent win. “it’s a competition so you are competing with countries from all over the world…”

Along with the prestige of winning a World Championship, Benedict’s awards winning pieces will be displayed in China for six months. Benedict has many different projects in the works and is already planning for next year’s World Competition.

Sisters Bobbie Lazore and Paula Jacobs

Painter and graphic designer Bruce Boots

Caroline Bigtree and Juanita Arquette's beadworks and jewellery

Charlie McDonald was born in Ottawa and raised in Cornwall. He joined the Ontario Provincial Police in 1968, and retired after thirty-four years,service. His interests include writing, reading and geneology; and has been working on a series of short stories and poems. Charlie and his wife, Nancy have recently moved to Long Sault,where they enjoy the small-town charm and walking their golden retrievers.

The colors and meaning of the Aboriginal flag

Blue: The colour is the Metis flag
White: Air and wisdom
Black: Earth and reflection
Yellow: Sun and fire
Red: Water and trust
Green: Harmony and beauty

The four smudging herbs
Sweet grass
Cedar
Tobacco
Sage
Stands for spiritual, mental g, physical and emotional healing

Eagle: Master of the sky’s
Mark: Used for ceremonies, dances and prayers
Inuksuk: Safety, hope and friendship
Infinity sign: The joining of two cultures coming together
Drum: The heartbeat of Mother Nature
Feathers: Carries you prayers
Northern lights; Guides you to safety

Crystal Henry and her raised beadwork on canvas

Akwesasne Mohawk artist was born in Lake Placid New York and grew up in Onchiota. While watching his father illustrate books he would mimic with his crayons on the family home’s walls. At 19, David got his first job illustrating books.

Some of his work revolves around the Adirondacks Mountains, animal and lately portraits of the Mohawk people

His objective are to dispel the stereotype that native people are stoic and mirthless and produce a series of painting telling and preserving the stories of his people, stories only known through oral tradition.

Diane Sullivan, a renowned potter established her "Arabesque Pottery" studio in Williamsburg, in South Dundas. She was born in Ottawa and lived and several cities in North America throughout the continent and has traveled to China to her perfect her personal style. She rediscovered the human form during her stay in Jingdezhen, China, in a self-managed residence program. South Dundas has already influenced Diana; she thinks the birds while thinking about the Upper Canada Bird Sanctuary. Pottery is a contemplative art, clay inspires you and it takes peace and tranquility to perform this kind of art. To learn more about Dianne Sullivan visit www.dianesullivan.ca

Florence Benedict's hand made sweet grass baskets

Pen and Ink Artist

Gilles was born in Cornwall in 1956. At an early age, he began showing creativity in the Arts. By the end of High School , he definitely showed a talent. From there, he went on to complete a three year diploma course in Visual Creative Arts with Photography as second major.

After working in art related fields, he felt a strong urge to create art. Therefore in 1980, he began drawing in pen and ink making this into a professional hobby. Gilles then began doing exhibitions on a regular basis.

His work is known from the East to West coasts of Canada, New York, Florida, California, Barbados, France, England, Germany and Switzerland.

Nature is where he enjoys himself the most.

Ginnette Mellon is a self-taught artist who has always liked challenges. Having explored a variety of mediums from oil, acrylic and pastels, she finally chose watercolours as her medium of expression as it had the most challenges. The result is the rendering of soft paintings. She loves capturing moments in time, on paper.

Article and Photo, David Nesseth, Standard-Freeholder

Teddy bear maker Helder Ambrosio takes grandma’s fur coat and transforms it into a cuddly keepsake.

He’s taken coats made from mink, muskrat, raccoon, coyote, baby seal, lamb, even monkey and then this Morrisburg resident, by way of Angola in south central Africa, creates a one-of a kind personality.

“Each bear is different” said, Ambrosio “Different shapes, different fur, a different muzzle and face”. In a series he made last year, Ambrosio event put the scent the grandmothers used to wear inside the bears.

It’s all part of Fur Memories, a labor of love that came to Ambrosio as a child. At that time, his family travelled a lot and he never had a teddy bear of how own. But at the age of eight, once his family settle down, he decided to make4 his first teddy bear. It was only a two pieces. Now, the bears have 20 pieces.

“It’s a child’s best friend”, said Ambrosio, who tailors the bear’s personality for each client. “You can tell them anything. That’s why I don’t make them mouths. They don’t say anything. You can tell them anything and they keep it a secret”.

Ambrosio has made some 200 bears in the last five years. Pillow too. He displays them at hid day job in Morrisburg, where he works as a hair dresser at AURA on Lakeshore Drive.

“The one I name, I keep. So I try not to name them. The bears range from $100 to $350. The larger one are fully jointed. Ambrosio said the bears are meant to be touched, not jus displayed. Human oils help keep the bears’ fur lubricated. :”They need to be touched”.
Ambrosio said. “Love is essential”.

Helder Ambrosio can be reached at aurainteriors@hotmail.com

Photographer/Visual Artist/Environmentalist

Trees and natural wild spaces are as crucial to Image-maker Jacqueline Milner as air itself. “My work is a declaration of my love, concern and respect for all life. My creativity offers a path to mirror the vital role each living thing has in The Circle of Life.”

Chief Seattle said that “All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth, befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life. He is merely a strand of it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.”

Creators such as Ansel Adams, Emily Carr and Rachel Carson understood these sentiments and crafted photographs, paintings and prose, motivated to bring light to the desperate need of protecting and respecting our sacred habitats for the sake of mother earth and all her inhabitants. I join my voice, heart and creative energy with theirs, reminding everyone to a fact which I believe we each instinctively know to be true; that each living entity contributes a vital, necessary note to the amazing musical score we call The Circle of Life.

Joan began drawing at an early age. She painted in oils with Bob Eadie for 1 year and under direction of Teen Dancause she started painting in watercolours. She also has a passion for rock painting.

Extract Article and photos by Mary Lafrance, Indian Time, Akwesasne
Rattle and water drum making

Pictures: Teen Wolf working on a drum stick and awater drum

Kevin King is the self taught teacher who made is first rattle two weeks before the class began. He took the class to learn to learn how to make a rattle and ended up becoming the teacher. The tools being used actually provide many short cuts to rattle making. But Mr. King believes that it’s all about experience and not the technique. “No worries about getting to the place but how we got there” said Mr. King.

The class began with 22 people who had 5 weeks to make their own rattles. The class represented a wide range of ages from 6 to 75. “You are never too old to learn something new, said Teen Wolf the oldest member of the group.

Thanks to Mr. King’s quick tools everybody made their own rattles in the first few weeks and shortly after began making their own water drums. The main materials for constructing the water drums were unusual: PVC piping and plug secured with epoxy; however, Mr. King reassured everyone again that it is about the journey and not how they got there. What many people do not realize is that in older times water drums were made of clay pots and that wood came about with the advent of wood kegs from traders. That is why today it is beneficial to use plastic because it does not smolder or split like wood.

Toward the end of every class the group is visited by Ron Lafrance and other from his singing groups and they get to use their hand made rattle and water drums to sing traditional songs.
“In the end they are looking for the sound” said Mr. King and they can be proud that they made it themselves.

By the end of the class everyone who participated will leave with their own hand made rattles and water drums decorated with their original designs thanks to their dedication to learn the skills and tools provided by Mr. King. For upcoming classes contact the Akwesasne Library and Museum at 518-358-2240.

Lorna Foreman, local journalist has put together eleven years of her writings for Fifty-Five Plus Magazine. “When Life Becomes Real” is not just for the older generation - these articles touch on the human situations most of us have or will likely experience, at some point in our lives. Lorna has also written “Wheat Watchers” a cookbook for Celiacs.
You can purchase a copy of her books at Café Connectionz, 407 Water Street East, Cornwall

Maggie Wheeler launched her 4th and final book in a series of four “On a Darking Plain ISBN: 978-1-897508-20-6”, on November 20th. The Signing took place at Nightingale House B&B in Ingleside. The first Read-a-Thon ,on Nov 25th, was held at the Tri-County Literacy location. The cover of the book is red following through the on the theme of green, blue and yellow of it predecessors .The centre of it has to do with a house-moving team and there is a “quite striking” shadowing effect. There is also a spoiler alert at the front of the book stating not to read it unless you have read the previous three books.

Mr Jim Brownell MPOP wrote the intro. In this final book Farran MacKenzie finds herself, as Maggie Wheeler describes, basically running thrugh a mine field. The plot is historically based and takes the reader back to the War of 1812 when a shipment of gold disappears.The climax in this last book has been in Maggie’s head for the last five years.
When Maggie started writing the novel, doors opened and she realized there was a lot to say. In this last book she promised the readers she would tie up many loose ends. The process for writing this book was quite intense. The first three books were: “A Violent End”, the second “The Brother of Sleep” and the third “‘All Mortall Things”.

Maggie’ finished her Bachelor of Education in June 2009 and is working towards completing her M.A. in English Literature, at Carleton University. Her next move is going into a teaching career.

When this is completed, there will be more time for her children and family and Maggie is looking forward to sit every day to write. She already knows what she wants to write. It is has already been agreed by General Store Publisher. This book will probably be a mystery because that is what he loves writing about.

Natasha Smoke-Santiago with her painting "Grandmother Moon"

Pat is an award winning watercolor artists. Pat does not have formal schooling, but she has been involved in many art workshops. Pat finds much beauty to paint in Cornwall area. Several of her works are in private collections across Canada and as far south as Florida. She also has work in Australia and Japan. Pat lives in St. Andrews West, Ont. And has her studio in her home. To view some of Pat’s works go to www.focusartonline.com

Rose loves art, people and nature. Her aquarelles and oil paintings reflect these themes as well as the stories that evolve from them. She enjoys teaching painting as well as experimenting with new techniques and mediums to tell her stories. After a career in education she now applies this experience to her involvement in the art community. Rose does commissioned work is you’re not in a hurry; she likes to get it right. Je suis bilingue et fière de mes racines franco-ontarienne que influences souvent les thèmes historiques dans mes peintures.

Film maker