Real LaChance from Yarmouth Waterfront Gallery on Vimeo.

Born and raised on a farm in Eastern Quebec, I migrated to Nova Scotia in the early 60′s when I married a girl from Baccaro.

After 26 years in the military and a further 10 years with a campground directory outfit, Judy and I settled in Jordan Falls.

During my spare hours I make mosaic art pieces. My subjects are frequently related to the sea and the fishing environment. Stained glass provides a good choice of colours, but it is not a friend to work with. Many cuts on my fingers confirm that glass cuts.

” The five homes featured in The Amazing Yarmouth County House Tour, sponsored by the Yarmouth County Historical Society, are sure to dazzle guests on Saturday, August 21, when the homeowners open their doors at 1:00 p.m.

One can begin the “amazing” afternoon in north end Yarmouth, or on Darling Lake, Beaver River or in Port Maitland. The idea is to see all the homes by 4:00 p.m. and then visit the Pelton-Fuller House (next door to the Yarmouth County Museum) for tea, sandwiches and sweets.

Beaver River is home to Judith and David Sanders.

Judith says, “In 1998 we decided to build a summer home on land we purchased in 1972 when we were both teachers.  It took us two years to pay for it! But each summer we visited the property; admired the view and thought about the house we might build some day.  Robert Chipman was the architect and he gave us exactly what we wanted: a cozy country cottage with master bedroom at one end; guest and office space at the other.  There is an art studio, lots of windows to capture the views, and an open plan for the living, dining and kitchen areas.”

The nearby village of Port Maitland is home to Christine and Alex Pressburger.

Christine says, “Our home is nestled on a sloping section of land known as High Head, on the Mainshore Road.  It’s a traditional grey cedar, shingled Cape Cod-style home. We have magnificent views of the nearby rocky beach, Cape St. Mary, and on a clear day – Digby Neck. A covered veranda surrounds the house, and there are lots of windows. The gabled roof welcomes you as you approach.  Once through the entrance, the ‘great room’ has a 23′ foot high cathedral ceiling. The second level consists of two guest bedrooms sharing a large balcony, and a loft area used as an art studio.”

Darling Lake is the location for the historic Churchill Mansion, originally built by Aaron Flint Churchill. It is currently being restored and rebuilt into an Inn by Susan Wharram and Paul Jespersen from British Columbia.

“Many people have been watching the progress of our extensive renovation and restoration project, and we thought the Amazing House Tour would be a great way for people to see the work in progress for themselves!,” Susan says. “Almost all of the rooms have been emptied, and in some cases stripped down to the bones. People will see our finished show suite — “The New Yorker” — and you will see why we call it that on the tour. We’ll show the landscape plan, which focuses on days-gone-by…and we’re anxious to show off the ‘Wedding Zone’, too.”

On Elm Street in north end Yarmouth is another unique home that was home to the Town of Yarmouth’s street superintendant in 1909. Built in the Queen Anne revival style, the house has had several upgrades and renovations over the years.

Robert Mercier and Jean-François Grenier, both from Montréal, bought the home recently and it now serves as a home office for a travel industry business serving Disney and other experiential vacation destinations.

Robert says, “As you stroll through the home you will find hidden Disney treasures, toys and unique whimsical art. Mirroring our personalities, I’d say the home has a transitional interior design with modern influences and heritage touches. Walking through the home is like stepping into a gallery where everything has a story, and every view is a new discovery.”

The final stop in The Amazing Yarmouth County House Tour is owned and operated by the Historical Society: the Pelton-Fuller House.

This Victorian home was the summer residence of Mary Primrose (Pelton) Fuller and her husband, Alfred C. Fuller. Mr. Fuller was a Kings County native who moved to the USA at the age of 18 and became famous as the original ‘Fuller Brush man’ and founder of the Fuller Brush Company in Hartford, Connecticut.

The home is a two-storey Italianate-style house of wood construction, which was built around 1892 and which has several uncommon architectural elements. It features various examples of period furniture, glassware, silver and art. Tea will be served in the garden from 3:00 until 5:00 p.m., or inside the Museum in the event of inclement weather.

Passports to The Amazing Yarmouth County House Tour are $20 each and are available at the Museum at 22 Collins Street. Summer hours are 9:00 to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For more information, please call 742-5539 or email ycmuseum@eastlink.ca .”

Fr. Maurice Leblanc from Yarmouth Waterfront Gallery on Vimeo.

Père Maurice Leblanc (en francais) from Yarmouth Waterfront Gallery on Vimeo.

Born in West Pubnico, NS, Maurice LeBlanc spend forty-two years of his life teaching, mainly Art History. During the ’70′s he started to paint in watercolour and oil. He exhibited his paintings in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario.

He studied with outstanding Canadian and American painters such as Jean-Paul Ladouceur of the “Societe Canadienne de l’Aquarelle”, Nicole Foreman, Jan Cullen, Alice Reed and Jeannie Hancock. In the summer of 1985, he spent six weeks in Madrid, Spain, studying drawing and painting. He also studied in workshops organized in Quebec by the “Societe Canadienne de l’Aquarelle”.

Christine Pressburger from Yarmouth Waterfront Gallery on Vimeo.

Christine was born in Manchester, England, lived in a number of places and settled in Nova Scotia eleven years ago. Her career has been also varied – as a health professional, the owner of the Academy Tea Room and now devoting herself to painting.

She has been involved in the arts since she was five as a dancer, actress, theatre director and artist. Christine is a world traveller, but her most creative process takes place at her home in Port Maitland overlooking the Gulf of  Maine. As a result her paintings are eclectic in subject, style and varied in medium.

She has studied with several teachers such as Joy Laking, Jean Pederson, Maggie Schmidt-Mandell, Will Rogers and Brian Atyeo. – developing her style in oil, watercolour & mixed media. She is passionate about art and as a result her work is vibrant,  colourful and expresses Christine’s emotional reaction to time, place and subject.

Christine’s Website

Christine’s Blog

Sheila Rodney-Miller from Yarmouth Waterfront Gallery on Vimeo.

As a young girl walking on the beach, Sheila found that the ordinary rock was not quite so ordinary to her. Where others saw a grey piece of slate or granite, Sheila saw a myriad of colour, looking for release. Thus a lifetime of love for colour and art were born.

She started with oils, and over the years has expanded to include working with acrylics and watercolours.

Her subject matter varies. She completed a series of paintings from her 2007 visit to Mozambique, Africa, which is a mixture of portraits and wildlife.

Sheila has displayed her work at th’Yarc and at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Western Branch in Yarmouth. She recently had a three month display at the Yarmouth County Museum.

Velma Surette from Yarmouth Waterfront Gallery on Vimeo.

Velma lives in the Acadian Village of West Pubnico, along with her husband. From an early interest in art and colours, Velma has developed a natural talent to become an artist. Relying on her own ongoing interest and the occasional workshop, Velma has steadily progressed from her early efforts in oils to produce works in acrylics and, more recently, watercolours. Her works are distinctive, with an emphasis on strong use of colour.

With boundless enthusiasm, Velma continues to grow as an artist, participated in the 2003 Lunenburg Craft Festival and the 2002 Grou Tyme in Halifax. In recent years, her work has been featured in Grand-Pre, at the Village Historique Acadien de la Nouvelle-Ecosse (West Pubnico) as well as in the annual exhibit by Pubnico area artists at the West Pubnico Acadian Gallery.

Velma is a founding member of the Yarmouth Waterfront Gallery. She is also a member of the Yarmouth County Arts Society, Le Conseil des Arts de Clare and Le Conseil des arts de Par-en-Bas.