Kings County is large — stretching from the Bay of Fundy and Minas Basin to the deep interior of Nova Scotia. That’s over 2,000 square kilometres of territory.
Beginning in August, artists will be spread out across the county painting landscapes as part of “Brush with Nature” — an inaugural event hosted by King’s County Museum.
Anne and I have been collaborating with the Museum in the design and operation of this three-week plein air painting event.
The goal is to support both the museum and regional artists while celebrating the natural and historic features of the County. Artwork will be available for sale, auction and draw.
Any time between the 1-18th of August, artists can paint outdoors, anywhere within the County. We call this the “LONG BRUSH”. On Saturday the 20th of August the Museum hosts the “SHORT BRUSH” at Miner’s Marsh in Kentville. This is where artists will congregate to paint in and around the picturesque marshlands within a 2-3 hour window.
An early “Call to Artists” has already attracted some serious local talent.
Anne and I belong to six plein air art groups, three in Nova Scotia (founding two) and three in the USA (co-founding one), and have participated in many plein air events. We believe Kings County Museum and artists in “Brush with Nature” will have a successful and enjoyable event.
The size of Canada’s Northwest Territories dwarfs Kings County. This, I learned, is the location of Canada’s 44th Remote Sensing Symposium, 19-22nd June, 2023.
How time flies. I recall the early days of these RS conferences when conference images were printed out via typewriter overwriting symbols. Now we have hyperspectral imaging from drones (UAVs) and satellites delivered to mobile devices that complement GIS and AI systems (I could deliver a stand-up comedy routine on these changes).
The more I learn about co-chair Chris Hopkinson, professor at the University of Lethbridge and Google Scholar, the more I fathom his teaching and communication skills (he does reveal a sometimes awkward and dry sense of humour). He has built a potent remote sensing program. I could spend (and have spent) hours watching his YouTube Playlists.
Such as his “Airborne Lidar Field Operations Lecture“. Lucky students!
I wish Chris Hopkinson, his colleagues and students, along with attendees from across the country, all the best and much success at Canada’s 44th Remote Sensing Symposium.
While this symposium is taking place I will be preparing for my art trek with Anne, Footsteps East, through New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario.
Bob kindly sent me a reference to nature writer, Richard Mabey’s audiobook, “A Brush with Nature“. This represents 25 years of personal reflections on nature — from observational reflections on nature to questions about its relationship with language, art and life.
Acknowledgements
To Bob Maher for his continued encouragement to write about my art experiences and reflections on RS. To Chris Hopkinson for his engaging online videos and promotion of ULethbridge and Canada’s 44th RS Symposium.
Ernest Blair Experiment 
Chris and Laura were important members of the Applied Geomatics Research Group (AGRG) in the the period 2000-2011.
Bob
LikeLiked by 1 person