Muskoka Boathouses

Patricia Morley is a professor of English and Canadian Studies at
Concordia University, an associate fellow of the Simone de Beauvoir
Institute, and author of Margaret Laurence: The Long Journey Home.

Muskoka Boathouses is an unusual art book of great charm. The topic,
turn-of-the-century wooden dry clips and boathouses in the Muskoka area,
has been beautifully rendered in 40 pastel drawings by British artist
Jacqueline Carroll. The medium suits the message, and everything about
the production, from fine paper to faithful color reproduction, is
first-rate.

Anyone who has seen some of these boathouses, or perhaps some old
cottages in Haliburton or Algonquin Park dating from the same era, is
aware of their charm. Admittedly, nostalgia is involved. However, a
strong part of their enduring appeal lies in the harmony of structure
with environment. The artist has caught that harmony in her drawings,
along with the dark mysteries of water, forest, and shimmering light.

Carroll was born in England, came to Canada in 1953, and trained in
visual arts at York University. She is now based in Orillia.

Brief texts, set opposite their matching color plates, feature historic
and engineering details. The mini-essays are sometimes dry, but the
drawings are magical.