Early Spring 2022 News Blast

March Break - April Snow Showers

Community Profiles

Got Scrap Metal?

George Christou | Sculptor

Reviewing Local Artists

by Mary Jane Gomes

Driving a local country road to a barn with metal sculptured insects adorning it and a yard (currently somewhat snowed in) with metal sculptures about, you know you’re about to meet someone interesting.

George Christou fashions sculptures from discarded metal. And though he has not pursued the “art” world formally, over time requests for commissioned pieces large and small have fostered his metal sculpture and guided his development as an artist. He was captivated by a sculpture that enraptured him, and his audience, clients, and collectors have driven production, including two major public pieces on display at Trillium Health Mississauga.

Fashioned from waste metal

photo supplied by George Christou

A father turned artist inspired creativity; a mother “refashioned” materials and fostered confidence, a brother’s inventiveness, inspired creativity. Visiting a Convention Centre horticulture show, George recalls being drawn to a sculpture far down a passageway flanked by vendors. The sculpture engaged him from a distance, jettisoning him into action.

Christou fashions metal pieces inspired by the “scrap” metals he makes them from. Like an old African village elder who looks at a tree and therein sees “which drum it holds”, George contemplates metals he is about to fashion and in his mind’s eye sees them transformed into decorative and often functional pieces. He has been commissioned by clients offering their father’s (for example) tools for a piece to commemorate the one who once used them.

McKellar Township is having a piece fashioned by him for its 150^th celebration. It is hoped that local waste metal will transform itself through George’s craft to a figure that celebrates those here before us.

MLCA's notes: For McKellar's 150th Celebration, George is planing a sculpture to be created out of logging & farming tools and Implements

If you have such vintage metal to donate send photos to: hitmeafly@yahoo.ca

McKellar Township Council committed to reviewing program for food waste

As announced in the Township's Spring 2022 Newsletter Council will be exploring

Organic Waste Management Solutions

The Lake Stewardship & Environmental Committee

is helping to source out viable options

EXAMPLES OF COMPOSTING TECHNOLOGY

disclaimer

March Break in our rural community

There’s a decidedly subtle scent, as spring fights to come back to life. Tight buds start to appear on the earliest trees, roadside snow melts and the afternoon sun lures you into sitting a spell on a warmed chair that’s still hopelessly stuck in the snow.

The occasional brown patch of ground will morph into something green shortly as everyone enjoys the last wintery events of the season. Some windows may open a crack in the day before quickly being closed to protect against chilly nighttime temperatures.

For those who live in rural communities full time, the change is well anticipated. For those who pack up the family to spend the entirety of the school vacation at the cottage, arrive with lighter coats, winter boots, and shiver regrettably while they trudge from car to porch.

March Break cottaging creates memories of day long pyjama wearing, fresh outdoor activities, nighttime feasts of comfort food and of course; cocktails for relaxing parents.

No school. No online learning. No city life. Just a still frozen lake, naked forests and delicate nature sounds that echo in the night. Enjoy!