Trillium In The News

The Mississauga News

Features artist Eleanor Lewis Calendar helps Trillium

THE MISSISSAUGA NEWS
Dec 25, 2002

If you are not dropping off Christmas presents until the weekend, here's a stocking stuffer for those people on your gift list who are nostalgic over the days of yore. It costs only $5 and can be enjoyed year round.

It's the Trillium Health Centre's 2003 calendar that features 12 evocative paintings of yesteryear Canada by artist Eleanor Lewis.

And, oh yes, in the spirit of holiday giving, proceeds from the sale of the calendar will go to a worthy cause: Trillium's staff bursary fund.

"Two things came together in the making of this calendar," said Susanna Smith, Trillium's director of public relations, "Eleanor's wonderful images and the generosity of The Mississauga News."

The News produced the calendar, including the lay-out and printing.
Lewis' paintings are lovingly crafted vignettes culled from memories of her youth -- gabled homes dripping with icicles, horse-drawn sleighs and coaches, people muffled against the weather. There's even a box of puppies for sale in the general store! And food... lots of food.

"My parents owned a bake shop on the Danforth, and we lived in an apartment above it. That's why so much food, especially pies and cakes, appear in my paintings," said Lewis.

Although she has always loved to draw, for a long time Lewis' artwork took a back seat in her life. First, it was to her career when she was a young woman and later to her family after she was married.

However, in 1960, Lewis took lessons from the late Toni Sisti, a well-known portrait painter out of Buffalo. This is when she started working in oils and she has been painting ever since.

Lewis, 78, and her husband Bill have four children. Their Fort Erie home is close to 150 years old, and it's a constant source of inspiration for Lewis. Her family also features prominently in her paintings.

"Look closely and you will see pictures of my grandchildren, my husband as a small boy, and family names on signs in my street scenes," said Lewis.
The calendar is available at both the Mississauga and Queensway sites of the Trillium Health Centre.
 

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