By Adam Frisk
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
For more than a century, the winding waters of the Oxtongue River system, stretching from Algonquin Park down to Lake of Bays, have served as a muse for Canadian artists. The rugged landscape inspired iconic works by Tom Thomson, A.Y. Jackson, and A.J. Casson.
Now, a new hardcover book has captured the same rugged beauty that the Group of Seven famously did, but this time it’s through a modern, multi-faceted lens.
On July 1, Oxtongue Lake for Arts and Culture (OLAC) will officially launch Oxtongue Inspires: Through the Lens of Local Artists from Algonquin to Lake of Bays. The project began over a year and a half ago when OLAC co-chair Jan Woods noticed a wealth of stunning photography from the area being posted on Facebook.
“I kept saying to them, ‘You really should be doing something with this,’” Woods recalled in a recent telephone interview. What started as an idea for a community keepsake evolved into a high-quality, 120-page, bound and printed in Canada, collectible coffee table book. Oxtongue Inspires features the work of 15 local amateur and professional photographers. Rather than issuing an open call for
submissions, the OLAC committee directly selected established area photographers whose work demonstrated technical excellence.
“The uniqueness of this is that it’s 15 different people from up here, not just one person and their story,” Woods said, adding that each photographer has a dedicated, alphabetical chapter paired with an individual artist statement.
“We weren’t looking for photographs, we were looking for photographers who excelled with their work,” she said.
Woods explained that readers can expect a diverse visual journey through the local landscape, with high-quality images capturing everything from misty landscapes and vibrant northern lights to classic images of canoes and local wildlife like moose, loons, owls, and snapping turtles.
The coffee table book, which features a rich, velvety hardcover finish, earned high praise from renowned artist Janine Marson, noting that “a truer glimpse of Oxtongue could not be achieved any better than this.”
Retailing at $60 per copy, the book will fund OLAC’s community-based cultural operations. Since its founding in 2012, the volunteer-run non-profit has funded local historical plaques, organized art festivals, and raised money for regional health-care facilities.
Photographers will be present at the July 1 community event to sign copies of Oxtongue Inspires. Anyone who purchases a copy at the launch will be entered into a draw to win one of 15 original prints donated by the featured photographer.
The event will be held at Oxtongue Lake Community Centre, from 11 to 2 p.m.
For those unable to attend the Canada Day celebration, the book can be purchased atlocal retailers, including the Algonquin Art
Centre and Algonquin Outfitters
