On the trail of Tom Thomson ...

White Pine Pictures President Peter Raymont, Nancy Lang, publisher of At the Ojibway and researcher extraordinaire Rebecca Middleton are well-started on what will be a stirring new documentary on Tom Thomson. They visited recently to explore the background research for The Thomsons of Durham: Tom Thomson's Family Heritage. Their thorough research and award-winning ways are seen in documentary films such as Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould (Toronto International Film Festival Official 2009 selection) and Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Romeo Dallaire (2007 Emmy for Best Documentary). Keep posted for more information about the unfolding of this exciting project.

Doc looks beyond tragic Tom Thomson ~ Toronto Start article by Peter Goddard

Pricey paintings by artist as a (forever) young man

by Globe and Mail columnist Roy MacGregor

The Scugog Council for the Arts

Presented: Tom Thomson in Scugog
With Angie Littlefield
June, 2009

Prominent Group of Seven artist, Tom Thomson ceased to be a resident of Durham at the age of two months in October 1877, yet the stories of his family’s roots in Scotland and Durham provide a rich background against which one sees his works anew. Author and curator, Angie Littlefield shares the research and family stories that led to the exhibition and book The Thomsons of Durham: Tom Thomson’s Family Heritage and Tom’s paintings Near Lake Scugog and Evening Lake Scugog.

Writer, curator and editor, Angie Littlefield, has spent 33 years in the field of education. As Executive Director of the Durham West Arts Centre 2003-2007 she curated The Thomsons of Durham: Tom Thomson’s Family Heritage. She has also written a second book on the Thomson family, The Two Talented Thomsons, started the provincial Reading and Remembrance program, wrote The Dada Period in Cologne for the Art Gallery of Ontario, is now curating the AGO’s exhibition on Angelika Hoerle (May 23-Aug 30, 2009) and has written the monologue play Angelika’s Promise to be presented at Jackman Hall this June.

Tickets for this event are $10/SCA members, $15/non-members, available at the Scugog Business Centre, Unit G3, 181 Perry St., 905 985-4971. Advance purchase recommended, cheque or cash only. Limited seating available.
For more information contact the SCA at 905 985-4914 or visit www.scugogarts.ca.

Getting Personal with Tom Thomson: Group of Seven Forerunner

Following up on The Thomsons of Durham: Tom Thomson’s Family Heritage (2005) which provided Tom Thomson’s family history, I’ll explore subjects of interest to website visitors. Want to know more about:

Information will appear on the website in sequence dependent upon visitor demand. As a by-product, watch Toronto and the early 1900s come alive.

I don’t intend to invent Tom Thomson but with your help, I’d like to unpack existing information about the man and his times.

Two of the Talented Thomsons, a 12 page book with texts on George and Margaret written by Angie Littlefield, is illustrated with 36 colour reproductions of works by George, Margaret and Fraser Thomson.

The book is available from John A. Libby Fine Art or through this website go to books. $10 plus tax and shipping.

Margaret Thomson Tweedale 1884–1979 Q&A

“She was kind, generous, protective of family, loyal, had a good sense of humour, and was fun to be with for young and old.”

George Thomson LLB, O.S.A., 1868–1965 Q&A

George Thomson was John and Margaret Thomson’s first born. He spent nine years on his grandparents’ farm in Claremont as five more children joined the family. George’s grandparents, Tam and Elizabeth Brodie Thomson, lived in the stone house across the lane from his parents’ stone house. The extended Brodie/Thomson clan participated in music evenings and exemplified a love of reading and learning.

Links:

Algonquin Elegy by Neil Lehto www.algonquinelegy.com
His website has more links for people to explore and some interesting essays.