Monday Morning Musings
Posted on June 4, 2018 under Monday Morning Musings with no comments yet
Len and Rev. Donald MacGillivray
Art begets art.
Antigonish is blessed with many, many gifted artists. This group includes people who have been showing us their incredible talents for decades as well as a significant number of individuals who are getting to show us their creative genius at places like the Antigonish Art fair and several local galleries.
One of our most distinguished and recognizable artists is Anna Syperek. A few years ago, she was commissioned to do a painting of James MacPherson, the beloved organist and choir director at St. Ninian’s Cathedral who passed away in November of 2017. Her depiction of James sitting at the organ is magnificent. The painting appeared on James’ memorial card and afterwards, several people inquired about the possibility of getting a copy of the work.
In consultation with Anna and the MacPherson family, it was decided that copies of the print would be made available to the public with the idea that any proceeds from the project would go towards the ongoing restoration work of the Leduc paintings of the saints at St. Ninian’s Cathedral. The stretched canvass rendering is available for purchase at the Antigonish 5 to $1.00 store in Antigonish. Two sizes are available: the 8×10 version is $75 which includes taxes and the 11×14 is $100 including taxes. To contact the 5 to $1.00 visit their website: https://www.antigonishfivetoadollar.ca/ or call the photo shop at 902-863-2571.
Through the generosity of Anna Syperek and the Antigonish 5 to $1.00, 100% of the proceeds of sales will go towards the restoration of the Saints at St. Ninian’s.
As mentioned in an earlier post, James MacPherson was a passionate supporter of the art restoration at the Cathedral. He spoke about it often and was especially thrilled when the patroness of music, St.Cecelia, was the first of the Saints to get a facelift. Her image appears on Anna’s painting, looking down at James. When this work began a few years back, he discussed the possibility of having a concert in the cathedral to raise awareness and funds for the work being done.
It seems only fitting then that the parish and the broader community now has an opportunity to not only celebrate James’ life and his nearly 50 years of dedication to St.Ninian’s but at the same time, carry out his wishes to raise money for art restoration at the cathedral. In case you missed it, Pastoral Airs: A Concert in Memory of James MacPherson will be held at St.Ninian’s Cathedral on Saturday, July 7th at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are available at St.Ninian’s Parish office, Antigonish 5 to $1.00 and MacKinnon Pharmasave as well as on line by going to the Antigonish Highland Society website at https://www.antigonishhighlandsociety.ca/
Members of James’ family will be in attendance at the concert and there will be an unveiling of a copy of the Syperek painting which will become a permanent fixture in the cathedral.
Art begets art.
Have a great week.
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