Site 5: Crossing Paths with Gardens
Where Moir Street meets the Rotary Trail in East City
Artspace event location, 1997
The image shows an unfolded black lawn chair with a white metal frame and light brown wooden armrests. The canvas of the chair is painted black with an orange-red poppy flower and a pale green stem and leaf. The chair is set on a bright green lawn with a shadow cast to the left of it.
Margaret Sinclair is the artist who painted this chair for an Artspace fundraising event at this location in 1997.
Scroll down to read a story about the site written by Peg Town in the summer of 2024.
This is the place where I met the artist, Brian Nichols, almost 30 years ago. It’s possible we were previously introduced at Artspace or another cultural organization, but this is where I first connected with the dedicated steward and cultivator of these wild plants and wonderful gardens. Brian’s place continues to be a significant landmark for me where art and gardening co-exist. If your path has ever crossed this one, you will be familiar with the welcome signs and the creative spirit that moves through here like a summer breeze.
Artists and gardeners are closely related, inspired by colour, form and ever-changing environments, working with materials by trial and error until their creative hands are satisfied to lay down the tools of the trade. Artspace is no stranger to that relationship and has had great success bringing people outside of the gallery to appreciate creativity in natural light and green spaces.
On the Summer Solstice of 1997, Brian Nichols and his family generously shared their gardens on this beautiful blooming bit of ground with Artspace for its fundraiser, Art In the Garden.
Andrea Fatona was the director of Artspace at that time, and she wanted to continue with the June event which first took place in the gardens of Lois and Al Beavis, parents of Lynn Beavis, former director and Lori Beavis, former chair of the fundraising committee. It was a blooming success!
Many people came to the event to enjoy the flowers and locust trees in full bloom, the pollinators and paths, refreshments and appetizers, good company and garden art. My mother, aunt, brother and sisters travelled 3 hours to be here. Many volunteers helped out with the event. Gardeners Cathy Forgie and Clifford Ballantyne gave planting advice and demonstrations. Many artists made sculptural works for show and sale. Artists Margaret Sinclair and David Bateman were among those who painted original art onto canvas lawn chairs for a silent auction. My mother bought Margaret Sinclair’s work, and I bought David Bateman’s work, both of which I have returned to this garden for Crossing Paths.
In 1998, I moved from culture to horticulture and started a very small company, Town Gardener. I actually ended up working in the gardens of some of the people I met through the artist-run centre. I really enjoyed cultivating those relationships and learning about the art of gardening.
It’s been quite a few years since I worked in horticulture, but I always have a garden at home, and whenever I am out walking or riding my bike on this bit of trail, I take a moment to look at the boundless creativity growing here.
Reflective Question
How do art and nature intersect in your own life?
Site 1: Crossing Paths with History
Site 2: Crossing Paths with Performance
Site 3: Crossing Paths with Community
Site 4: Crossing Paths with Nogojiwanong
Site 5: Crossing Paths with Gardeners
Site 6: Crossing Paths with Collaboration
Site 7: Crossing Paths with Diversity
Site 8: Crossing Paths with Climate Change
Site 9: Crossing Paths with Infrastructure
Site 10: Crossing Paths with Today and Tomorrow
