The Ottawa Valley chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS-OV) has been championing the Dumoine, Noire and Coulonge rivers watersheds for a number of years, and this past weekend partnered with Café 349 to once again grace the restaurant’s walls with art of all dominion.

From Apr. 1 to May 3 CPAWS-OV is using the Shawville restaurant as a gallery space to showcase works produced by the artists who participated in last summer’s annual Dumoine River Art for Wilderness (DRAW), and on Saturday evening it hosted a vernissage for the exhibition.

Seventeen artists answered executive director John McDonnell’s invitation to participate in the multi-day residency last year, and “create artwork inspired by the intact and wild nature of the Dumoine River.” The exhibit at the café is the next stage of that adventure whereby the artwork aims to connect people to the watershed and to nature.

With the exhibit, the walls of the café offer an extensive collection of interpretations made manifest in paint, fibre, photography, collage and more. Individually, they are stunning and collectively they are impactful.

On hand for the opening were several participating artists, including Maggie Glossop whose fibre piece

“Sunbathing on the Dumoine” brought broad appreciation from across the very busy room. She seemingly echoed the sentiment of many of the participants when describing her own experience.

“It was just sitting there,” explained Glossop as she stood beside the felt-based piece of a turtle by the water’s edge, “and it invited me in.”

CPAWS Ottawa Valley chapter advisory board president Monique Boivin was on hand to thank attendees and explained, “the sales from the exhibit go toward generating funds for the society and this year’s residency and retreat.”

“I look forward to seeing you this summer,” she enthused as she extended an invitation to this year’s retreat running from July 29 to Aug. 5.

The exhibit runs through to the beginning of May and the café is open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Ruth Hahn, owner and operator of Café 349 since 2002, personally catered the event and once again showcased her prowess at hosting art openings with an ample and endless array of her signature goodies.

If you would like to participate in this year’s retreat, contact CPAWS at jmcdonnell@cpaws.org or by phone at 819-209-5178.