"Art on the Rock"

I'm just back from 4 days in St. John's Newfoundland.  I've never been out that way.  As the name of the trip implies, it was all about galleries and artists, musicians and art.  I really enjoyed it.  In St. John's we went to the Rooms, their new art gallery, museum and archives.  I saw an amazing exhibition of drawings by Susan Wood.  We went as well to some smaller galleries that sold many artists including Mary Pratt, Christopher Pratt and David Blackwood.  Our first stop was at Quidi Vidi where a new craft studio has been built for emerging artists.  We also visited Signal Hill and the botanical gardens at Memorial University.  One day we took a trip to some small villages.  At Cupids the earliest European settlement from 1610 is being excavated.  Near Brigus we visited the former home of American artist Rockwell Kent which is now run as an artist's retreat.  At Bay Roberts we had lunch at the Mad Rocks Cafe.  Speaking of food, every lunch and dinner was at a different restaurant, all excellent.  The group was small -- only 5 of us plus our leader, the Newfoundland writer Kevin Major.  For a wonder, the weather was great with sunshine almost all weekend.