The changing seasons are starting to show themselves in the landscape, adding another layer of beauty to our blueberry picking. This photograph not only shows the full, ripe fruit but also hints at the yellows and reds on the leaves preparing for fall. It's a great example of the natural colors our artists and photographers are working to capture.
Artists and Photographers Document the Start of Fall While Foraging for Wild Blueberries
The air here in Northwestern Ontario is starting to feel a little different, with a hint of what’s to come. This week, our living land lab program has been out and about for our annual blueberry harvest. It’s been a great mix of work and creativity, as we all get our hands on the land and enjoy what it gives us.
One of the best parts of this year’s program has been focusing on the different plants and flowers that grow all over our local area. Besides the delicious blueberries, we’ve been collecting and writing down details about so many things that grow here. Every plant has a story—from how people have used them for generations to why we just love having them around. Taking the time to document these plants has been its own kind of art project, helping us to look closer and notice the little things we might normally miss. This process helps us appreciate not just the harvest, but everything that makes it possible.
Changing Seasons
It’s a beautiful time of year to be out here, as we can already see the colors starting to change. The bright greens of summer are slowly giving way to new yellows and reds on the leaves. These shifting colors mean that autumn is just around the corner, and the landscape is starting to look like a painting. This time of year gives our artists and photographers so much to work with, a kind of beauty that doesn’t last long and we all want to capture. There are so many great moments to photograph, from the deep blue of the berries to the fiery colours that are just starting to show on the shrubs and bushes.
This whole project is a celebration of how beautiful nature is. From up-close photos of small flowers to bigger shots of the changing forest, the creative work has been amazing. The harvest isn’t just about the food we gather; it’s about the memories, the inspiration, and the art we create. It shows how strong the connection is between nature, our community, and making art—a bond that gets stronger every year.
We’re especially thankful to the Ontario Arts Council Multi and Inter-Arts program for supporting this year’s summer arts internship and mentorship program. From learning about photography and digital arts, to planning, coordinating projects and writing proposals we’ve been learning a lot. But most of all, it’s the opportunity to get outside and connect with the land that has had the most impact. We’re planning a small exhibition this fall of the nearly 100 plants and flowers we’ve documented this summer, so stay tuned!
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