New Brunswick's north shore is the inspiration behind an art exhibit that opened in Fredericton Friday.
Artist Francis Wishart specializes in a technique known as monotype.
He paints the subject onto a plate of copper or zinc, which is then pressed to create the image. It's a technique impressionist master Edgar Degas used during the late 19th century.
While Wishart’s technique is impressive, his subject is even more so – the untamed, natural beauty of New Brunswick's north shore.
“It's one of the world's best kept secrets, it is extraordinarily beautiful. Because the economy's run down, not many people sort of know about it.” says Wishart. “It's become, strangely, virgin territory and it feels out of time, it feels as if its way back, where there's something extremely relaxing about it.”
Wishart's work and northeastern New Brunswick are the focus of a new exhibit opening today at Fredericton's Gallery 78.
Wishart's work goes beyond scenery. He focuses on food as much as flowers and observers say his work captures the beauty of even the most common of subjects.
“He's shown everything in its beauty,” says gallery manager Germaine Pataki-Theriault. “Fireweed, which most people wouldn't even look at, and then to see it in its detail and finery, it looks like lace, it's that beautiful.”
As much as he loves the north shore, Wishart recognizes the region has seen better days.
Traditional industries – fishing, logging and mining – have all but disappeared. However, Wishart feels a rebirth may be near, something he's tried to represent in his work.
“The trouble, when you have a very well-kept secret, do you want to keep it or do you want to share it?” asks Wishart. “I think, in the end, it's going to be a slow process, to give it back life for economic reasons, because it's far from big town, it's got all sorts of reasons against it.”
Wishart's exhibit, ‘Hymn to the North Shore’ runs through Oct. 25.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Andy Campbell
