A Small Town During Pandemic: an Interview with Ryan Gordon - theHumm March 2021
A Small Town During Pandemic: an Interview with Ryan Gordon - theHumm March 2021
The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum mvtm.ca and Ryan Gordon Photography ryangordonphotography.com have partnered to create a timely exhibit of photographs entitled “Faces & Fabric of a Small Town During Pandemic”. Curator Michael Rikley-Lancaster and artist Ryan Gordon write: “As the community grapples with a pandemic that is radically reshaping every aspect of public and private life, we are striving to capture the historic shift through the eyes of everyday people in Mississippi Mills.”
Ryan’s photos can now be viewed and purchased online, with all proceeds going to the Almonte General Hospital Foundation front lines. They will also be treasured in the museum’s archives for future generations. theHumm contacted Ryan Gordon to find out more about this very special exhibit.
theHumm: When did you first become interested in photography, and how does it help youprocess and engage with the world around you?
Ryan Gordon: I have always been fascinated by photographs. I love that they capture a moment in time; they are the only proof we have that generations of loved ones who have passed before us actually existed, and they keep their memory alive to future generations. They capture expressions, feelings, emotions and behaviors. My mom gave me a Pentax film camera for Christmas when I was 16, and I’ve been talking photos since.
How and when did you find Almonte? Are you a long-time resident or a relative newcomer?
I was born and raised in Perth, Ontario, but still wasn’t too familiar with Almonte. After living in Ottawa for 15 years, working in the Funeral Services industry, I decided to move my family out from the city and get back in touch with my small-town roots. I wanted my kids to have a childhood similar to how I grew up. I was drawn to the energy of Almonte, the arts, the culture, the people, the vibe. There is something special here, something that cannot always be described, yet everyone knows exactly what I mean by that. There is a magic here, and something in the air, in the water, but I’m just thankful that my family is able to call Almonte our home.
You and Michael Rikley-Lancaster began working on this exhibition shortly after thefirst lockdown was announced. What has this project shown you about how people aredealing with Covid and its associated challenges? Have you been able to capture somemoments of hope and joy as well?
I had always been known for portrait or fashion photography, and it wasn’t until the pandemic began and the lockdown happened that I shifted my focus to landscape. In the beginning, with no sense of time and with nothing much else to do, I really dove head-first into the world of landscape photography. I think one gift that many of us were granted with this pandemic was the gift of time. Never in our lifetimes had we been given this amount of time. Time to learn, time to create, to experiment with things we had been pushing off, or to try something we’ve always wanted. I got time to not only spend with my children, but to really get to know them as people who have ideas and opinions — who have a voice.
I got to meet so many amazing people in the community through this exhibit, for which I will forever be grateful. Hope and Joy are hard emotions to capture in a world of the unknown, but what I feel I was able to capture was the human spirit. That no matter your thoughts, your views, your politics, people in this community were able to come together and help one another out, and that was a beautiful thing to see.
Michael has been such amazing mentor. He is inspiring, he is passionate, and his love of art and his love of this town and its history is so motivating. The best part of this experience for me is that the museum has now archived the selected photos and they will be become a part of the history of this town. In a hundred years, when future generations look back on these photos, I hope that they see that this was the beginning of a shift that needed to happen. This pandemic has changed the way we live, the way we communicate and the way we love. We know now that the world can change in the blink of an eye — that it can all change overnight — so it’s important be kind to others, lead all intentions with love, take risks, do what you have always wanted to do, tell people you love them, forgive, be thankful for every day, and don’t take for granted things like hugs, handshakes, celebrating special occasions or spending time with those you love.
Was there something specific that inspired you to use your skills to bring awareness to theTextile Museum and at the same time to raise funds for front line workers?
I wanted the photos to reflect beauty — beauty in a time when the world was uncertain and dark, people were dying and the public was scared. I wanted my art to show that even in uncertain times there is beauty in the darkness. I looked to inspire with colour, light, crispness and clarity, creating contrast with the dark so that the light was able to shine through. And in the end, I wanted the theme — that art is everywhere, even in mundane everyday life — to come through. You can still find beauty in the smaller things, in the boring everything things, and everything and everywhere can be art.
Can people still ask to have their photo taken as part of this initiative? If so, how should theygo about doing so?
The pandemic is still ongoing, I’ve been capturing it since day one, and I will continue to do so. If anyone in the community has a unique story, or has a story they would like to have preserved for future generations about their experience during COVID-19, they can reach me on social media @ryan.gordon.photography, through my website, or through the Textile Museum.
On a personal note, what is helping you to get through this first full Covid winter?
I read an article last year about embracing winter like the Norwegians do — getting out there and experiencing all that winter brings. I have been trying to do that this winter — changing my attitude towards it by getting outside as much as possible. I’ve been exploring lots of trails in the area; hiking, walking, taking the kids skating, and just trying to capture with my camera all the beauty that winter brings.
Katherine Muir Miller — Falling in Love with Art - theHumm March 2021
By Sally Hansen
Art… and Soul
Landscape artist Katherine Muir Miller’s brilliant paintings tap into the same subject matter that inspired Canada’s beloved Group of Seven artists — the great northern Canadian landscape in all its seasonal glories. This is where she finds her inspiration — rooted in her mother’s deep love of trees and fostered by her own and her five children’s passion for the magnificent and wild Canadian outdoors.
Many Canadians can’t look at a painting of stark pines outlined ag......
Winterwords Café #3 Keep Calm and Write On - theHumm March 2021
On Tuesday, March 23, theHumm invites you to Zoom in from 7–9:30pm for a conversation with Robynne Eagan, writer Jacob Berkowitz and associate professor Sophie Tamas. This will be the third in our series of Winterwords Cafés, and is open to everyone!
Speaking on the topic of “writing in challenging times”, Jacob will share his creative experience during the pandemic of writing a play, a non-fiction book, and working at his day job as a science writer.
Sophie will talk about “the (mis)use......
More Fun, Less Stuff - theHumm March 2021
By Mike Nickerson lives near Lanark, Ontario, and is the author of Life, Money & Illusion: Living on Earth as if we want to stay.
A meme to remember when the challenges of climate and inequality get you down: MORE FUN, LESS STUFF.
On a good day one can sense, through the fog of our world’s problems, a faint light. A glimmer of a place where humans live in balance with the Earth and with each other.
Viewed from the challenges of today, that place seems to be another dimension. And it is. The values by which people manage themselves are dimensions of worlds we might build, and this alternate dim......
Living on Earth as ifWe Want to Stay: A Discussion with Mike Nickerson - theHumm March 2021
As we emerge from the Covid lull, we have an opportunity to recreate our world.
On Tuesday, March 16 at 7pm, theHumm presents a Zoom discussion with Mike Nickerson, author of Living on Earth as if We Want to Stay.
The story about work, pay, investment, profit, living off other’s efforts, and perpetual economic Growth is running out of room on our finite planet — Mike will discuss changing the cultural narrative. What are the economic myths that keep us captivated in the money paradigm?......
The John Muir Trust MMLT Presents John Muir’s Legacy in the Land of his Birth - theHumm March 2021
By Bob Betcher is the president of the MMLT
Each year the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust, in association with its Annual General Meeting, has a guest speaker who entertains and informs us on nature or other issues associated with the preservation of wild land. On March 31 the talk will be a little unusual for the Land Trust, but a very special event for our members and the general public.
Our guest speaker will be Mike Daniels, Head of Policy and Land Management at the John Muir Trust based in Pitlochry, Scotland, not......
We All Belong — Mississippi Mills - theHumm March 2021
By The WABMM Team
Would you like to be part of a new video project in Mississippi Mills? We All Belong — Mississippi Mills (WABMM) is a fledgling group started in response to acts of intolerance in our community. It plans to offer projects through which people can feel supported to share their stories, knowledge, and perspectives, in order to increase understanding and acceptance in our community. We hope to share projects that illuminate and celebrate our existing and growing diversity in Mississippi Mills. We a......
Reimagining Maple An Interview with Shirley Fulton-Deugo - theHumm March 2021
The first Covid lockdown hit pretty much right in the middle of maple season in 2020. Here we are almost a full year later, and local sugar bushes are still dealing with pandemic pressures. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Shirley Fulton-Deugo — with help from her family and Fulton’s “Team Awesome” — has been pivoting like crazy to open their 400-acre property to the public and get maple products safely into the hands of all of us who are starved for a taste of Spring.
theHumm: We are so gl......
Tackling Menstrual Inequality —One Tampon at a Time - theHumm March 2021
By Jessie Carson
On July 1, 2015, the federal government removed the “luxury” tax (GST) from all menstrual products. This was a monumental shift in beginning to combat period poverty in Canada. Many provinces followed suit and exempted menstrual products from provincial sales tax as well. Prior to this, householders already saved GST on items like cocktail cherries, wedding cakes and products required for incontinence. What was monumental was not the 27 cents saved on a $5.49 box of 16 tampons; it was the recognition that menstrual products are not a luxury but an essential item for all menstruators in Ca......
Step Out of the River - theHumm March 2021
By Vickie Walsh
Is it me, or does the pandemic bring the term “March madness” to a whole new level?! Even with some solid positive coping strategies, I still feel it.
This feeling reminds me of the Paulo Coelho quote: “You drown not by falling into a river, but by staying submerged in it.” Let’s step out of the river.
In 1999, I was 21 years old, relatively new in the military, and on my first deployment to East Timor. Two years prior to that I had a tank accident that left me wearing dentures for a few yea......
The Ground Beneath Our Feet - theHumm March 2021
By Chandler Swain
This month’s focus is on a small group in our community called the Farm Working Group, one of nine working groups within the Climate Network Lanark (CNL).
For a taste of what they are doing, let me introduce three members to talk about why they are participating to bring farms into the conversation about their important role in Climate Action.
Scott Hortop
Scott, you are the facilitator of the Farm Working Group for CNL. I know the group is still in its f......
Who Ya Gonna Call? - theHumm March 2021
By David Hinks
As someone who is intensely interested in local gardening, particularly vegetable gardening, I frequently peruse local gardening Facebook groups. Some of my favourites are Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton, Almonte and Carleton Place Gardeners, Edible Ottawa Gardens, and Eat Local, Buy Local in Lanark County. I often find that there are some really good responses from the Ottawa Master Gardeners.
What strikes me about posts this time of year is the number of questions and comments about starti......
Jim Hake: Ladies Night - theHumm March 2021
Sivarulrasa Gallery is delighted to launch a program of simultaneous exhibitions this year! A solo exhibition of paintings by Almonte-based artist Mary Pfaff entitled Mary Pfaff: Companions is currently running in Gallery I, where it will continue until March 26. For the inaugural show in Gallery II, they are pleased to present Jim Hake: Ladies Night, an immersive solo installation of sculpture by Toronto-based artist Jim Hake. This show will run from March 10 to April 16.
......
Happiness is a Good Book Meet Ann Shea, Almonte’s Newest Bookseller - theHumm March 2021
By John Pigeau
In the strangest of times, Ann Shea’s happy story just seemed to fall into place, neatly if unexpectedly — rather like chapters in a good book.
Once upon a time, she found herself shoe shopping with her sisters in Almonte.
“I grew up in Aylmer, and my three sisters still live in Ottawa and the Valley,” Ann explains. “They are frequent visitors to Almonte, particularly drawn to the shoe selection at Crush Marketplace. In August, I was in the area and they invited me along for t......
Online Drama Studio with Carolee Mason - theHumm March 2021
Calling all thespians and dramatic artists! Are you feeling deprived of the opportunity to pursue your passion during this pandemic? Are you looking for ways to connect with like-minded souls and engage in the creative exploration that is part of working together to put on plays? Do you miss the performance, the social interaction, the intellectual and creative "buzz" that comes from the rehearsal process itself?
If so, the Studio Theatre Perth has a solution for you! They ......
Mindfulness Mini-Course - theHumm March 2021
These days, over 80% of Ontario’s health services are being delivered remotely. When asked by the United Way of Leeds and Grenville how Country Roads Community Health Centre could help more people in their homes, a video program seemed a logical idea. “We have had tremendous success with our Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program,” says CRCHC Executive Director Marty Crapper. “Traditionally, this has been an in-person, ten-week program. We asked our instructor, Sandy Prentice, and John Pringle of Westport Video, to come up with ideas on how we could take the core elements and present ......
Poetry Reading and Discussion - theHumm March 2021
On Friday, March 26 at 7pm, the Carleton Place Library will present Park Ex Girl: Life with Gasometer — a poetry reading and discussion via Facebook with Claudia Coutu Radmore.
Here is Claudia’s twentieth-century life in Montreal’s Park Extension, characteristic of how suburbs grow. Looming over her on Beaumont Street is a seventeen-storey gasometer that casts a spell over her early life. Her poems include depictions of how gas-powered electric lighting snaked ......
MERA Spring Speaker Series - theHumm March 2021
Brighten up your early spring by Zooming in for an exciting series of talks presented by MERA. Taking place on Thursday evenings from 7–8:30pm, the topics include art in the community, hiking, writing, and Lanark wild places. Organizers have tried to plan something for everyone!
The series of four talks starts on March 11 and runs until April 1. Admission is by donation to MERA by sending an e-transfer to meraschoolhouse@gmail.com .......
Self-Compassion - theHumm March 2021
By Glenda Jones
I saw this on a sign last week: “Be kind, Practice self-compassion”.
Well now, that sounds like a regimen I can adopt pretty easily, ridding myself of guilt and angst all in one step. Someone is giving us permission to indulge in inner pleasures. Don’t go crazy languishing on the couch with chocolates and pulp novels, or become a hermit watching old movies and eating popcorn. You still have to keep up some modicum of decent appearance and health. However, a teensy bit of self-indulgence w......
Fueled by Plants - theHumm March 2021
By Jaaron Hamilton
During a time when it’s difficult to go out, many people are looking inward to find inspiration and motivation to eat and create good food. Fueled by Plants author Stéfany Oliver has used the pandemic to harness her passion and put together her first recipe book, with the goal of bringing health and happiness to her community.
Fueled by Plants is a collection of Oliver’s own vegan and gluten-free recipes, featuring local foods from throughout the Ottawa Valley and Ottawa area. ......
An Ode to the Maple Tree - theHumm March 2021
By Ray Fortune, Fortune Farms Maple Sugar Bush
Have you hugged a maple tree today? I know not everyone can do this, but it’s the thought that counts. And here’s why…
We are so fortunate at Fortune Farms fortunefarms.ca to have two majestic sugar bushes, both of which have been tapped for well over one hundred years. The picture shows one of our largest trees, which we have named the Fortune Giant. We have others larger but not as close to a trail. Sadly, we lost several of our large......
A Small Town During Pandemic: an Interview with Ryan Gordon - theHumm March 2021
The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum mvtm.ca and Ryan Gordon Photography ryangordonphotography.com have partnered to create a timely exhibit of photographs entitled “Faces & Fabric of a Small Town During Pandemic”. Curator Michael Rikley-Lancaster and artist Ryan Gordon write: “As the community grapples with a pandemic that is radically reshaping every aspect of public and......
CFUW “Staycation” Raffle - theHumm March 2021
CFUW Perth and District is raffling off a “Staycation” gift basket worth over $1,000, with contents generously donated by local businesses. The prize includes a two-night stay at Clyde Hall B&......
No Maple Weekend;Lots of Maple Syrup! - theHumm March 2021
The Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association (OMSPA) is disappointed to announce that Maple Weekend has been cancelled for 2021. The event, which takes place the first weekend of April each yea......
Maple Run Tour Cancelled for 2021 - theHumm March 2021
The organizers of the Pakenham Maple Run Tour are very sorry to announce the tour is reluctantly cancelled for this year. We are so disappointed that we will not be welcoming enthusiastic visitor......
Apr 20 Perth Trashure Hunt Clean-up
Apr 20 Solitary Man
Apr 27 Festival of the Maples
Apr 27 The Moth Project
May 4 - 5 Spring Fine Art Show
May 4 Outskirts
May 5 Music at Mera: The Andrew Collins Trio
May 11 - 12 Art in the Attic
May 11 Engelbert Humperdinck & Tom Jones Tribute
May 16 MMLT Talk & AGM
- IS THIS A PROTEST?
- A Classic Whodunnit Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee at Studio Theatre
- Readers, Writers, and Poets
- Celebrate Indigenous Culture in CP
- Celebrate the ClassicsWith the Arnprior Choir
- 4F Auction Concoction Food, Fun, Fashion & Favourites
- Cheerfully Made Spring Market
- Electrify to Decarbonize Lanark
- Volunteer Forum
- Frankenstein Comes to The Station Theatre
