The Art of Living

Ken and granddaughter Gaelan

My Dad, Ken Townend, has loved photography since he first discovered cameras as a young lad growing up in Lincolnshire. Throughout his long life, photography has been a central theme. Through the War years, when he was a radar operator in the Royal Air Force; through the years of raising a family; through retirement, when he spent many happy hours in the darkroom, developing the glamour shots of young women that he specialized in during his later years, making pictures has always brought him joy and satisfaction.

These days, his memory isn’t what it once was and he is confined to a wheelchair. He lives in a long-term care facility and his darkroom days are done. However, his art show days aren’t over! Leisureworld, the corporation that manages a chain of care facilities, recently presented their 3rd Annual Art of Living Exhibit at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. It featured the creative expressions of a selection of Leisureworld facility residents and Dad was one of the exhibitors.

I attended the opening reception on the evening of June 23rd. What a wonderful presentation! Some 28 artists were represented by an array of creative work. There were paintings and drawings and fine needlework and sculptures all on display. There was even poetry by several residents stencilled on the walls.

I arrived early, before the room was very busy, so was able to peruse the show at a leisurely pace. The gallery filled up as the evening progressed.

Here is a selection of Dad’s photographs. A really fine job was made of displaying all the art work to perfection.

One section of the gallery was reserved for photographs of the artists. A beautiful programme was also prepared to accompany the show, with a double page and photograph devoted to each artist. Exhibitors were invited to respond to a set of questions about their art and philosophy. In response to “What is your motto?” two answers predominated. Many offered a version of the golden rule: Do onto others as you would have done to you, while many others said: Live life to the fullest and enjoy every day! Good advise from people who have lived long lives and enjoyed the pleasures of artistic expression.

I was so impressed with this wonderful undertaking. Thank you to Leisureworld for bringing a terrific idea to fruition, and congratulations to all the artists.

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Daylilies Today: July 6th

Daylily season, long-awaited, is getting underway. A few daylilies have been blooming for a week or so now. Coyote Moon (Hybridizer: Kirchhoff Registered: 1994) was new to the garden last year and has really settled in well. It has plenty of buds and produces very pretty, nicely shaped yellow flowers touched with cinnamon.

Suzy Wong (Kennedy 1962) is an older cultivar. The flowers don’t have the substance of many newer daylilies, but I like its fresh, lemony yellow. It is very floriferous, producing many buds over the daylily season.

Pixie Parasol (Hudson 1975) has also been blooming for a while. It was the first daylily to bloom this year. Like Suzy Wong, I moved Pixie Parasol from my previous garden. I saved it, in part, because I think its name fits it so well.

Femme de Joie (Hayward 1979) is another old favorite that suits its name. The flowers really do look joyful. It tends to have weak scapes that let the heavy flowers droop, but it is holding up well so far this year.

Born Yesterday (Lambert 1972) always reminds me of my children when they were newborns. We have been getting some much-needed showers today, and I just dashed out and snapped a few photos during a brief interlude. The flowers are touched with raindrops.

I moved Broken Heart (Kroll 1993) to a sunnier spot in the garden and it has suffered a bit of a setback from transplanting. However, it is still gamely producing a few flowers.

Yesterday Memories (Spalding 1976) is a very pretty, unassuming pink that always does well. This was its first bloom this year.

Big Smile (Apps 1999) always makes me smile. I like its understated pale yellow, with white ribs and just a touch of pink on the petal edges, a very cheerful, good-natured look. I moved this plant in the spring too, and unlike Broken Heart, it seems very happy with the move. It settled right in and is blooming better this year than it did the last few years in a shadier location.

Finally, here are two spidery flowers, Curly Rosy Posy (Hansen 1992) above, and Eggplant Escapade (Reed 1996) below. The season is off to a good start.

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