Category Archives: Photography

Antigonish Town and County Calendar 2018

Antigonish Town and County Calendar – 2018

The Out and About Nova Scotia Antigonish Calendar 2018 is now available with beautiful scenes of Antigonish Town and County.

Enjoy Antigonish throughout 2018 with 13 photographs by Denise Davies, This makes a great gift for anyone who has lived in Antigonish or to send to friends.

Scenes include Antigonish Main Street, StFX, Antigonish Landing, rural Antigonish, Ballantynes Cove, Cape George Lighthouse, Antigonight.

Satin paper stock. 8 1/2″ by 11″. Coil bound. Photography by Denise Davies, Out and About Nova Scotia.

The calendar is available at The Posh Peppermint, 200 Main St. Antigonish $20

or ORDER ONLINE

$20.00 CAD

FREE SHIPPING IN CANADA

International shipping will be calculated with your order size and address.

Payment may be made with PayPal or credit card.

[powr-paypal-button id=ce032ed4_1501844045]

 

Antigonish 2018 Calendar

 

[powr-paypal-button id=ce032ed4_1501844045]

 

Mist Rising on an Autumn Morning

This autumn morning in Antigonish was a perfect mix of crisp fall day, a light wind and changing temperatures that brought mist rolling into the valley and rising and falling on the wind currents.  The green fields, reds and golds of the trees peeked out or were hidden by the autumn mists.

Enjoy the video

Art Out and About Antigonish

 

 

Antigonish has long been a centre for the arts and artists.  In the past year there have been a lot of new additions to art exhibit spaces and the arts are flourishing.   There are many wonderful galleries and exhibits to explore and enjoy as you stroll along Main Street and then take a drive for more.  See how many you can visit and be sure and add your comments and suggest any others that you find.

Main Street Mural Andrew Murray

Main Street Mural Andrew Murray

Starting from the Post Office end of town and heading East on the right side of the street:

  • ASAP, 319 Main St. (next to the Post Office)  www.asapartcentre.com All of Us Society for Art Presentation, is a newly formed artist-run centre founded by local artists and art supporters.
  • People’s Place Library, 283 Main Street www.parl.ns.ca/peoplesplace/guide Browse the community art in the Bistro area changing monthly.  Permanent exhibits commissioned from local artists are found throughout the building.   July displays the GoArts juried works from 25 artists in a variety of medium.  Free WiFi, friendly staff, great collection of books and bulletin board with local happenings.   Bring in your coffee or lunch to enjoy in the Bistro while you meet or play board games.
  • Bergengren Credit Union, 257 Main St. www.docstoc.com/docs/72284899/THE-GIFT –   Frieze by Fenn Martin “The Gift”- celebrating the journey of the Bergengren through 75 years.
  • McLeod Gallery, 219 Main Street, Kirk Place. www.antigonishphotographersexhibit.com Antigonish Photographers Exhibit.  July and August.  “Scottish Ayres”.  Photography exhibit by APx.
  • Prissy Pig CafĂ© and Deli, 20 St. Andrew’s Street (corner of Main St) www.facebook.com/prissypigcafedeli – – Peter Jowett photography exhibit July and August.  Have lunch or a brunch from this great local food restaurant.

Starting from the Post Office end of town and heading East on the left side of the street:

  • The Tall and Small CafĂ©, 342 Main St.  The cafĂ© expanded recently and now has ample seating room and a delicious vegetarian menu.  Changing exhibits of art and photography are displayed along the walls in both rooms.  July Exhibit – Ruth Young.
  • The Made in Nova Scotia Store – 324 Main Street  www.themadeinnovacotiastore.com A treasure trove of hand-made crafts from Nova Scotia.
  • Aphrodite Art and Fashion, 292 Main Street – www.aphroditeartandfashion.com Enjoy whimsical and elegant selection of art from Atlantic artists in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.  Including works from Wayne Boucher, Ann Manuel and many others.
  • Andrew Murray.  www.antigonishculturealive.ca/aca-outstanding-artist-of-the-year-2011 See Andrew’s murals on several of the buildings along Main Street and his interior design of Cameron’s Jewelry.
  • Down to Earth Art Gallery and Fine Framing, 240 Main Street.    www.downtoearth.ca Featuring works by J. Franklin Wright, Alan Syliboy and others.
  • Lyghtesome Gallery, 166 Main Street. www.lyghtesome.ns.ca This gallery has been a mainstay of culture in Antigonish since 1975 and exhibits works from Linda Johns, Anna Syperek, Julia Redgrave and many others. A fine selection of original paintings, sculpture, prints, cards and works of art. The Summer Showcase of Gallery Artists July 6 — Aug 31 – “A Slice of Nova Scotia at its Visual Best”.  New and recent works by gallery artists. Special Feature: “Unheard Music”, Linda Johns’ newest ltd. ed. book

Slideshow of a few of the locations:

[slideshow]

Off Main and out of town:

  • St FX Art Gallery – Bottom floor, Bloomfield Center, St. Francis Xavier University.  The summer exhibit is from the permanent collection.
  • Old Barn Gallery.  Melanson Road, Pomquet (30 minutes east of Antigonish off Highway 104). www.facebook.com/OldBarnGalleryDecor Beautiful display of arts and antiques set in an old barn and surrounded by gorgeous flower gardens.
  • C.A.  MacLean A Matter of Tastes.  3931 Highway 7 (10 minutes from Antigonish) www.amatteroftastes.ca Featuring works by Vicki (V.L.) MacLean

Upcoming Art Events 2012

  • Gathering of the Arts.  GoArts 2012. July 9 – 30. www.antigonishculturealive.ca Peoples’ Place Library.  Exhibition of juried art work from 25 local artists from Antigonish Culture Alive. Opening reception July 9.
  • Art Ceilidh Studio Tour.  July 13 – 14.  www.facebook.com/events/241118522665990 Part of the Highland Games week celebrations.  Tours of artist galleries and studios in and around Antigonish.  Start your tour at Lyghtesome Gallery for maps and directions.
  • Antigonight: Art After Dark. September 21-22.  http://antigonightfest.tumblr.comNighttime participatory festival for all the arts, celebrating the rich arts community of northeastern Nova Scotia.
  • Antigonish International Film Festival.  October 19-20. www.antigonishfilmfest.org Over 40 documentary films.  Peoples’ Place and Empire Capitol Theatre.   Community Dinner and arts at the Prissy Pig Oct 20.

July in Antigonish an Arts Celebration. The Casket, June 26, 2012 by Richard MacKenzie

Directions

View Larger Map

Denise Davies is a travel writer, photographer, filmmaker and entrepreneur.  This article appeared in the Highland Heart, June 29.  www.highlandheart.ca

 

Peggy’s Cove

Peggy's Cove Lighthouse by Denise Davies

Peggy's Cove Lighthouse

Peggy’s Cove is a picturesque fishing village with a lighthouse that is one of the most photographed sites in Canada.

The village of Peggy’s Cove was originally settled in the 1700s as a fishing community.  Settlers also had cattle and did some farming in the small areas not covered with granite rocks.  The setting is beautiful but you can imagine the difficult life during the storms and winter.  This tiny community (2009 population: approx. 46) is a working fishing village and home of artists and artisans.

The weather is changeable – as anywhere in Nova Scotia.  Our visit was on a sunny spring day with a calm ocean.  However fog and storms are common and do be careful as you explore the granite rocks that you pay attention to the waves.   Bring layers and windbreakers.  During heavy seas and storms the waves crash up over the rocks.

The red and white lighthouse was built in 1915 and set out on a rocky point with views of St. Margaret’s Bay.  The entire area has large rounded granite slabs and it is fun to clamber over the rocks for spectacular ocean views and views of the village weather and safety permitting.

We enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Sou’Wester restaurant and gift shop which has a delicious selection of local seafood, salads, soups, burgers and local deserts such as Blueberry Grunt. The restaurant is open year round. The gift shop is a great place to browse for interesting art from local artists, photographs, clothing and gifts.

[slideshow]

The Visitor Information Center is open from May to October. Over 750,000 tourists visit Peggy’s Cove in a year – most during the tourist season.

A walk through the village is picturesque.  Homes of the fishermen, small arts and gift shops and the wharf are all set off by the ocean and the granite rocks of the area.   Be sure to see the 30M granite wall carving by William E. deGarthe depicting the fishermen and their families of Peggy’s Cove.  The deGarthe gallery is open during the May to October season.

Directions

The drive from the Halifax Armdale Rotary is 45 KM and passes lakes and coves along the way.  The road is winding and give yourself time to enjoy it.   You can return on a circle route passing the memorial for Swissair Flight 111 and then either continue on to Chester and Lunenberg or loop back to Halifax.

LINKS

Looking Back at 2011 and Looking Forward to 2012

 

 

Winter has been quite a roller coaster from warm days, lots of rain, clear skies, snow for Christmas and some days feeling like spring or fall and other days real winter. It is a good time for reflection – to look back and enjoy some of the sights and sounds and experiences of the past year – and to plan for the upcoming year.

Winter Wonderland- in our few days of snow that magically arrived just for Christmas

[slideshow]

 

Favorites from 2011

Some of the many wonderful finds and experiences of the past year

And much more – click on the CATEGORIES to browse through all the postings or the ARCHIVES.

Looking Forward

  • Sydney and industrial Cape Breton – I grew up in Sydney but really haven’t explored it in the past many years.
  • Annapolis apple blossoms – have not been here in the spring and looking forward to seeing this.
  • Cape Breton fall leaves – this is such a spectacular sight on the tartan colored rolling hills of Cape Breton and enjoying the crisp days of autumn
  • Yarmouth and the South Shore – lots to see and do here
  • Fundy tides – one of the wonders of the world (although it didn’t quite make the list)
  • Kedjie park – the many Parks of Nova Scotia with hiking and nature explorations

What are your favorite places in Nova Scotia?  Celebrations? Stores? Places to stay?  Things to do?   I would love to get your suggestions and reasons why – and will take a look at including these on my own explorations in 2012.   Please fill in the COMMENT box below to make your suggestions.

Thank you to all the readers of Out and About Nova Scotia – Enjoy your armchair traveling 🙂

Denise Davies

–