Several years ago I was approached to paint a special image to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Hants County Exhibition, celebrated in 2015. it was an honour to create the painting, and I spent a considerable amount of time and energy in the creative process to finally arrive at the image of the team of oxen. It was integral to the composition to also include several other elements, the landscape and colours of the Avon River, the Fort Edward blockhouse where the early fairs were held, the suggestion of the Acadian dyke system which tamed the Annapolis Valley and allowed the farming to succeed, and of course a ferris wheel, such an iconic symbol of fairs and exhibitions.
Lisa Hines, graphic designer for the Hants County Exhibiton and a volunteer director with the Windsor Agricultural Society that stages the event, designed the poster for the event, using the commemorative painting as the focal point in the poster. This poster was awarded Best Poster in 2015 at CAFE, the Canadian Association of Fairs and Exhibitions, an association that has over 200 members. A huge honour for Lisa and the Oxen painting.
The original painting is 36 by 32", acrylic on canvas and hangs at the Hants County Exhibition on permanent display.
