Watchful Reverence
Last year I pitched a story to UPPERCASE magazine — a profile of my creative hero, artist/author Sabrina Ward Harrison. It was a thinly veiled attempt to meet Sabrina, whose work I have followed for close to ten years. As luck/fate (read: GOD) would have it, the pitch turned itself into much more than a phone interview.
I was sent to Prince Edward Island for a three-day sojourn with six other women to create alongside Sabrina at an old waterside hotel called the Highlands. (You may remember I faced a little trepidation as prepared for this trip.) The historic home and adjacent town dance hall, where we did our making, has housed royalty and the likes of Reverend Billy Graham. Each room was brimming with island minutiae and stacks of old LIFE magazines — a writer’s dream. Angela Ritchie, founder of the Whistler-based ACE Camps, and a creative mastermind in her own right, was the organizer of the retreat. I had the good fortune of interviewing her when I was back in Vancouver last week.
The fruit of the trip — Watchful Reverence, in UPPERCASE issue 10 — arrived at stockists and doorsteps days ago.
An excerpt:
“It’s the steady calm of the island air whistling through the birch trees. It’s the burst of plover, finches, and jays that begin their daylight calling at 4:30am, beckoning us to do the milking… I am sitting on the front stairs of the Highlands main house. Here four crooked trees congregate like an outer hearth. The twisting white-worn branches are the sort you’d find in the Haunted Wood of Anne of Green Gables’ imagination. The beaked chirps, caws and whistles blend into a symphony of spring. Behind me seven girls chatter on around the breakfast table: preserves, balkan yogurt, fresh-baked muffins, boiled eggs, brimming between. In the old adjacent dance hall Sabrina, dressed in a vintage polkadot dress, is readying for the day’s making.”
It was an absolute gift to meet Sabrina and a joy to work with Janine Vangool, tireless publisher/editor/designer of the magazine (not to mention mother to an on-the-run toddler.)
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If you are interested in reading the complete article you can order single copies or subscriptions to this beautiful publication at: http://shop.uppercasegallery.ca/collections/uppercase-magazine-1\. It is available in print only.
6 comments
Hi Christina,
I’ve just been reading your article in Uppercase. Was this your first trip to PEI? I am Australian but have been “home” to PEI six times. I am a BIG believer that magic happens there, it is such a beautiful place and there is so much that is beyond human there – it’s a very spiritual place for me and definitely my place of peace.
Your time with Sabrina (isn’t she incredible….I adore her work) will be special to you for so many reasons and I believe it being on PEI makes it all the more so.
Kass
x
can’t wait to read it! I’ll pick up a copy soon.
Hi Christina! My name is Amy and I was in the 1st group at the highlands with Sabrina. I would love to purchase this magazine and read about your experience. Which issue is it in? I find the site a bit tricky to navigate. Thanks!!! :)
Hello Kass! Thanks for visiting. :) This was my second trip ‘home’ to PEI and I know exactly what you mean. It is a truly magical place. The first time I traveled there was on our honeymoon…
Meg, woo! Let me know if you have trouble finding it. There is a stockists list on the UPPERCASE site.
Hi Amy! I was originally supposed to be in the first group. It would have been lovely to meet you. The issue you are looking for is #10. I hope you enjoy the read and that you catch glimpses of your sweet time with Sabrina at the Highlands.
Hi Christina! I ordered this issue of Uppercase a few weeks ago and finally sat down to read thru it today. I was so completely delighted to find your article about Sabrina and PEI!!! I was in the first group too (hi amy!!) and your words rang so true for me. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Hi Christina and Kelley! I finally figured out how to order my copy of uppercase (I ended up getting a one year subscription for some ongoing inspiration) and I was thrilled to read the article. The only problem: I wish it was longer!!! I loved your descriptions of the setting at the highlands and also giggled at your comment about Sabrina controlling her presence on the web…only because I got the exact same sense from her while in PEI. Very interesting indeed. Congratulations on the article, the beautiful baby…and the upcoming book? Wow, you are busy! Such an inspiration. :)
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