17 October 2008, Market Square, Saint John
John Christopher MILES (1832-1911), View at Sheffield, On the St. John River, c. 1885, oil on canvas. 50 x 91.5 cm Saint John Art Club Collection, presented in 1917 by Mary M. Woodman, 1995. New Brunswick Museum Collection, accession no. A65.A22 (Reproduced from an email message to the artist from P. Larocque, September 22, 2008) Traded for support and driving from a to b.
John Marshall and his retired donkey Huey on the last farm remaining outside of the Saint John city limits. He tells me the rural communities have slowly evolved to become suburbs for commuters. John farms beef cattle and is also the coordinator of the Continental Drift International Short Film Festival and Third Space Gallery. A busy and diversified guy committed to a progressive cultural life in a city defined by conservative history and a monopoly of industry. I was struck by his generosity of spirit – and his willingness to drive me everywhere on my short visit to the city and then all the way to Sackville. On my way out of town I left behind the painting by JC Miles in a window installation and thought it would be best that it stay in Saint John as per the historical facts. The pastoral view remains with John and his livestock.
