Two appliqué projects I did about the St. Lawrence Seaway/The Lost Villages.
Top one is based on the Lost Villages Historical Society logo, bottom is based on a photograph by George Hickey taken in Aultsville, Ontario just before the flooding of the Seaway.
Heart Island on the St. Lawrence River is home to Boldt Castle. Built as a declaration of love for George C. Boldt’s wife, Louise, this castle stands apart as top stop for New York travelers.
In 1904, disaster struck when Louise suddenly died. Boldt never returned to the island as he could not imagine living there without his dear wife.
The incomplete castle stood dormant for 73 years until 1977 when the Thousand Island Bridge Authority made efforts to restore the castle to its final glory. The castle can be visited during the season (May-October) as well as the boat house - both destinations can be reached by ferry from Alexandria Bay.
Personally, we managed to see the castle on the very last weekend they were open. It was still picturesque, but crowded. The ferry rides were to die for and the entry fees were ~$11.00. There’s also a little spot on the island to get lunch and some ice cream while you wait for the ferry back 🍦
I was recently commissioned to do a couple of labels for a company called "Lost Villages Brewery." The labels are known as "Paradise Lost" and "Captain James' Seltzers" respectively, and both are based on the history of the St. Lawrence Seaway and its sunken villages in Ontario, Canada (also for which the brewery is named). Both have slight alterations to them for the final product, but yeah. These were fun!
My art is now on beer cans. Who would have thought it?
“This pretty Indian girl has completely won over the shy beavers at Metis Beach, Quebec. The Indians have the confidence of their ‘little-brother’ of the forest as not others have.”
- from the Toronto Star. October 20, 1932. Page 27.
The 32-stateroom riverboat MV Canadian Empress (1981) operates regular passenger cruises on the St. Lawrence and Ottawa rivers from their base in Kingston, Ontario.