This Other Eden: Canadian Folk Art Outdoors

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

Strange things sprout in Canadian gardens. Whirligigs, scarecrows,
weather vanes, sheep, decoys, and fanciful birdhouses are just some of
the works of folk art that we choose to decorate the spaces around our
homes. Tilney defines folk art as “multifaceted aesthetic expression
produced by people without specific training who wish to tangibly
express their creativity.” Or, in other words, “untrained unacademic
working class art.” Garden folk art, with roots stretching back
several thousand years, bloomed in Canada from around 1960 to 1990. By
the early 1990s it had almost disappeared, increasingly replaced by
“faux folk”—folk art purchased rather than created by the
homeowner.

Tilney’s work is based on the collection of the Canadian Museum of
Civilization. The friendly, approachable yet knowledgeable text is
supported by 43 color and 12 black-and-white photos. He gives respect to
yard art for what it is—something “created in the soul, placed in
the garden”—and places it in the context of the evolving decoration
of the spaces surrounding today’s homes. His view is Canada-wide, with
special attention to the patenteau tradition in Quebec.

The many color plates of weird and wonderful creatures make the book
fun to leaf through, a portable folk art gallery. The beautifully
written text makes it a valuable introduction to the art for would-be
connoisseurs.