Cobalt art exhibit raises funds to protect Wolf Lake

Spirit of the Red Pine, a fundraising visual art exhibit by the pARTners for Wolf Lake, will launch next Friday at Cobalt’s Classic Theatre.

The exhibit will be on display at the Classic’s Mezzanine Gallery from July 10 to August 2.

An opening reception will be held on July 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. The goal of the show is to raise awareness about one of Ontario’s most significant old growth forests. The exhibit was also on display at Artists on Elgin this past February.

“Wolf Lake is a gem,” said painter Rod Prouse, in a press release. “The monumental pines and surrounding rock faces and heights create a sense of seclusion, drama and space.”

Prouse’s current paintings reference the Canadian landscape in a refreshing contemporary style.

Located in the Chiniguchi park and river system, outside of the city limits near Kukagami, the lake is surrounded by what many believe to be the world's largest continuous span of old growth red pine.

This forest type is an endangered ecosystem, existing on only 1.2 per cent of its original habitat. The show is a fundraiser for the Wolf Lake Coalition. The Coalition is calling on the Wynne government to add Wolf Lake to the neighbouring Chiniguchi Provincial Park.

“After critically-acclaimed shows around Ontario, we are proud to bring this art back to the North,” said show organizer Bob Olajos. “Northerners have always loved Wolf Lake and they want to see it protected.”