"Watersong" by Elizabeth Gilbert

When I was handed this lovely paddle to paint, I had just come back from a two week painting and paddling trip on Georgian Bay. I’m truly thrilled to present “Watersong” in support of ALS.

Side 1:

Depicts the Canadian red maple on a shoreline with reflections. Maple is used in the making of many paddles, and also in the frames of many canoes. Though not as common for maple syrup (sugar maples), red maples also produce a lovely syrup. Unlike sugar maples, red maple is tolerant of wet feet, and can be be found as brilliant rubies on the shorelines of our lakes in September and October. Some silver is found in the reflections I painted, bringing into mind a very favourite paddling song that many will remember. “My paddles clean and bright, flashing with silver…”

Side 2:

Depicts a silver birch tree and a birchbark canoe. Using the materials of the land our indigenous peoples developed stunningly efficient technologies such as the canoe and paddle, opened up and settled the land stretching across North America. They developed trade and treaty networks, agriculture and complex diverse cultures long before Europeans arrived and settled. The first highways of North America were the rivers and lakes that they navigated in canoes built from the forests. When I first examined the shape of this paddle blade, I saw the shape of a canoe. In honour of one of the most efficient and pleasurable technologies ever developed, I painted this paddle. Please: I am a paddle, I am a tool and a song. I am meant to take you to important places. If you are going to hang me on a wall, I understand; but please, please take me paddling first, that I can be real.