An In-depth Look at Lucille Oille’s Prints at MacLaren Art
by Gillian Lowry
I recently had the great pleasure of attending a research session at the MacLaren Art Centre in Barrie, to view the collection of Lucille Oille’s prints.
Many know Lucille Oille and Kenneth Wells from “The Owl Pen”, the homestead and book that was published in the 1940’s, written about their time living in Oro-Medonte in a cabin they moved from down the road. Oille did many relief prints to accompany Wells’ writing, and I have been very interested in studying her technique. The MacLaren Art Centre has over 50 prints that were created from her carved blocks in 2002, that they printed themselves for their collection, and were generous enough to allow me to view them.
I have been trying to get a first-hand look at as much of her artwork as possible, as I will be having an art show of my own at the Orillia Museum of Art and History in September of 2024. The show will consist of my relief prints inspired by Lucille Oille’s artwork, so viewing her prints at the MacLaren Art Centre was a real treat. When I arrived, I was ushered into a climate-controlled and darkened room, and was given instructions on how to handle the works. Wearing gloves, I was able to look at each piece individually and take notes (in pencil only) in my notebook.
On first glance, I was overwhelmed by the technicality of the prints. They are incredibly detailed, and very small! The owl print that inspired my print shown here, from The Owl Pen, is only two inches tall, and I realized that I had been wrong in assuming I understood the method she had used. I had assumed that Oille had made all of her prints by carving into the wood, but I realized when I was looking at the fine detail that they had mostly been made by engraving. To the non-printmaker, this detail may seem inconsequential, but to the printmaker- this is a big deal!
Engraving allows a different level of control in line making, and this is what allowed Oille to create such incredible detail in that small scale. When carving, you are removing the wood by carving it away, and when you are engraving you are pushing the wood in onto itself, so you can draw as if you are holding a pencil. I believe Oille did carve away larger parts of the image, and then engraved the fine detail with a tool that had a point the size of a sewing needle. Her eyesight must have been incredible, and her hands very steady! I gained a lot of insight into her method once I realized this important note about her technique.
It was also just so inspiring to see a collection in one viewing, you get great insight into the person when you see all of their work laid out at once. Her skill as a printmaker, her consistency in design, image layout, technique, subject matter, were all incredibly evident, and it felt special to see the local, Simcoe County landscape reflected in art.
The accompanying image is my rendition of Lucille Oille’s owl, from The Owl Pen, created using linocut printmaking. Where her print was only two inches tall, mine was six inches. If you have any information on Lucille Oille that you’d like to share, please email me gillian.lowry@icloud.com, and if you are interested in upcoming shows and printmaking workshops, be sure to visit www.gillianlowry.ca.
NATIONAL & WORLD FIDDLE DAY DANCE MAY 18, 2024 at Eady Hall
In 2012, Caoimhin Mac Aoidh, a fiddler in Donegal, Ireland founded the concept of World Fiddle Day, with the purpose of promoting fiddling throughout the world. He chose the third Saturday in May, to coincide with the 1737 death of Italian violin craftsman, Antonio Stradavari.
Since 2012, various countries have embraced the concept of a “Fiddle Day” ib tgus date. In 2015, the Canadian Parliament, in order to recognize the traditional and contemporary importance of fiddling and its importance to Canadian heritage and Canadian Society, enacted a bill which proclaimed the third Saturday in May each year as “National Fiddling Day”.
Over the years, events have been held in various parts of Canada and the World to recognize “Fiddle Day”.
Sandy Price and her husband Ralph live in Oro-Medonte. Sandy plays “old time” fiddle and Ralph is a square dance caller. In 2022 and 2023, they held events at the Eady Community Hall on the third Saturday in May to celebrate Fiddle Day. Rather than charge admission, they asked attendees to make a donation for COPE SERVICE DOGS. They arranged for COPE to bring dogs to the hall and an enthusiastic group of fiddlers, other musicians, dancers, square dancers and listeners came in numbers. People came and went throughout the afternoons and the Hall was full. They had great back-up bands and numerous fiddlers, square dance callers and other musicians who came to demonstrate their talents.
The total raised over the last two years of events was $5,300.
If you weren’t there, you missed a couple of super days, but you will now have the chance to be there in 2024.
Ralph and Sandy are again organizing a FIDDLE DAY CELEBRATION AT THE EADY COMMUNITY HALL ON SATURDAY MAY 18, from 1 pm to 5 pm.
It will be the same format as the last two years, with fiddlers, singers, other musicians and square dance callers having the opportunity to sign in and be part of the program with the back-up band.
ONCE AGAIN, IT WILL BE A FUNDRAISER FOR COPE SERVICE DOGS. ADMISSION TO THE EVENT WILL BE FREE, BUT DONATIONS ARE REQUESTED FOR COPE DOGS.
DOGS IN TRAINING WILL BE THERE!
If you want more information, contact Ralph or Sandy Price, telephone 705-835-3159 or email ralph.sandyprice@sympatico.ca.
If you will be unable to attend, but would like to “support the cause”, go to the COPE DOGS web-site www.copedogs.org, click on “support”, click on “donate”, click on the appropriate donation and enter Fiddle Day in “Type of Tribute”, so that they know “why” the donation.
We look forward to seeing you on May 18.
