Follow That Thought

Bethany Rose Puttkemery, Vertical Garden, 2018.
Bryce Wymer, Assemblage of Andromeda, acrylic on die cut wood panels.
Bryce Wymer, Assemblage of Andromeda, acrylic on die cut wood panels.
Bryce Wymer, Assemblage of Andromeda, acrylic on die cut wood panels.
Jamie Angelopoulos, Overtake, 2015, steel, plaster, paint, fabric.

A sculpture exhibition at the Drake Devonshire.

Writer Anya Georgijevic

While the rustic-chic Drake Devonshire in Prince Edward County is a destination in and of itself, the boutique hotel is giving visitors yet another reason to visit. For the third summer in a row, the inn’s charming grounds have been turned into a sculpture garden with a special exhibition, Follow That Thought, on display until November 10.

The brainchild of the Drake’s in-house curator Mia Nielsen, the exhibition features works by both emerging and established artists from around the globe. “I’m always looking for a balance of Canadian and international artists,” says Nielsen, who keeps a list of her dream collaborations. “I’ll see a piece or the work of a particular artist, and then I’ll go after them, to work with them specifically.”

The exhibition features eight installations located throughout the property. While there is no dedicated beginning or end point, visitors may first encounter Bethany Rose Puttkemery’s living plant installation, Vertical Garden. The Toronto-based sculptor used an existing 10-foot tree stump as the base for the composition, which will evolve as it grows with the seasons.

At the hotel entrance, guests are greeted with a duo of ghostly hanging figures by Brussels-based artist Alex Morrison. Perched on the roof above them is Little Doodle, a light sculpture by New York’s Jason Peters, which glows bright white during the day and by night, is illuminated in iridescent colours. Over by the waterfront is Brooklyn-based artist Letha Wilson’s superb corten steel composition featuring imagery from the Grand Canyon, providing a juxtaposition of landscape to the endless Lake Ontario, while the intricate windchimes of Montreal-based artist Maryse Larivière gently sway in the breeze from a nearby tree. Guests can also peruse the Devonshire’s permanent art collection which features works by Kirsten Hassenfeld, Graham Gillmore, and Micah Lexier, among others.

For a day filled with art in a bucolic lakeside setting, the Drake Devonshire’s Follow That Thought is just the ticket.

Follow That Thought is on display at the Drake Devonshire until November 10, 2018.

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