Reversing Falls Bridge

We finally took possession of the painting “Reversing Falls” by Lynn Wigginton last week. It’s been hanging in the New Brunswick Museum as part of an exhibit for the past six months. The exhibit was the summary of a research project on the development of Saint John, entitled Saint John: An Industrial City in Transition. This Community Research Alliance Project was a multi-year initiative, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, to document how Saint John is attempting to reshape its economic base, protect and conserve its natural environment, and sustain its cultural life. University of New Brunswick Saint John faculty, New Brunswick Museum curators, and individuals from other community organizations worked with student researchers to address a wide array of specific topics, with the commitment that the resulting findings would be shared with the community in ways beyond traditional academic papers.

As project artist, Lynn worked with selected researchers to respond to what they had discovered and present their findings in a series of 12 significant paintings. She commented that, “as I worked collaboratively with the researchers to document and interpret their findings through my paintings, I was challenged to experiment and innovate artistically. It is my hope that the paintings create important visual links to significant local research in natural science and the humanities. I also hope that these panoramic views of Saint John will encourage people to appreciate the city's marvellous setting.”

It was difficult to choose only one of the large paintings (100 by 150 cm) for our living room. However, there was only so much wall space and we agreed upon “Reversing Falls” as our choice. (To see the other paintings in the series, go to http://www.lynnwigginton.ca/ and select CURA.)

Many thanks to Jack Hill, this blog’s unofficial photographer, for transporting the canvas from the Museum to our house in the back of his Element. Thanks also to Regi Mantin for her care in hanging the painting.
Most of all, many thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate the painting’s arrival at its permanent home, as well as the summer equinox, at a gathering last Friday.

Harvey