LyNNE M. ANSTETT
i’d also love for you to talk about your experience on Prince edward island, and the meaning it has for you. you have returned to it many times… how does it affect you and how does it fit into your artistic life? Lynne: yes, i’ve been to the island for three visits with my friends Bob and elaine. they travel there almost every year to visit Bob’s family, who have lived on the island for many, many generations. it feels like the kind of place that is similar to the way my parents and grandparents grew up, living a simple but relaxing and slower-paced life. When we cross the Canadian border, we turn off the cell service so we can sink into that relaxation. our children found other things to do than just be glued to the media devices. activities included having a campfire at the beach and toasting marshmallows for some of those “chocolatey graham cracker treats,”
riding bicycles, taking a walk or just hanging out playing board games and reading books. it was a bit of a shock for them at first, but it didn’t take long to adjust. We’d go to victoria-by-the-Sea for chocolate confections or a hot chocolate beverage, and visit the shops featuring hand-carved candles and jewelry. We’d visit a barn stuffed with antiques and collectibles with a seavillage or island feel. Here you can walk through the historic seacoast village and see the remnants of a onceimportant trade stop. one year, i bicycled on the island with my fiancé; it was a nice way to see the island—all those rolling hills that just kept rolling. one of the main industries on the island is potato farming. the potato fields go on and on and it seems like every corner you come to there are more potato fields. Many of the country roads are dirt—it feels like you stepped back in time, in a nice way. While on Pei, i would accompany
elaine and Bob to many of their family members’ houses. We always went to aunt Barb’s, where we sat around the kitchen, had tea and scones, listened to the fiddle or guitar and just relaxed and told stories. each year we took a boat trip around the northern part of the island, courtesy of one of the relatives, and the view was like no other. one time we were all invited to a wedding, to the music part after the ceremony and dinner. it was customary to invite everyone (related or not) to that part of the celebration. the wedding was set on a cliff overlooking the ocean near the highest point of the island. it felt very romantic, and the view looking out was the opposite from what i saw from the boat trip—a pretty spectacular experience. i later wrote a poem titled, To The Highest Point. Music and dance filled the rooms at many of the homes we visited; the music was just as central as the people themselves. everything i’ve experienced on Pei is easily woven into my artistic life; it’s the kind of place i’d like to visit again. i loved every minute of it. So, now you have a sellable product! Congrats! Please explain the meshing between photography and wanting people to have a functional piece of art? Lynne: thank you, yes, it’s selling. i do want to have a balance of “art” and “function” for this product. My hope is that the art part makes its way to the eye first, so there is some inquisitiveness about it and why was it selected. i’m always eager to share the story behind the photo.
how does it work? When do you shoot? how do you select? how do you print? Details! Lynne: i shoot all the time, as i like to have many options to choose from. Much of the picture-taking has to take place well in advance of the production aspect. the frequency and volume of pictures can grow quickly. of course i take lots of pictures of things that are not for my business, so essentially there is a camera in action a lot of the time, and i know sometimes it drives people nuts. Selection and laying out the themes comes in stages. i want to be sure the individual photo can stand on its own, and when added to a set of 12 monthly posters, i want to be sure there is a collective flow. Sometimes selection changes happen at the last moment. this has to be managed, as i need to keep the project and production schedule on track. i use local printing companies, leaving the printing to the experts. how do you see this business of art and functionality developing and changing in, say, two years from now? Lynne: My goal is to only build and add momentum from here on. But i do have to consider the distance i cover, and factor in a reasonable scope. i hope there will be sufficient public interest to continue this type of art poster calendar. Some efforts lead to other efforts, so it can be hard to predict where a project will take you. i am optimistic that the art and functionality will continue to be appealing in this form.
lynne M. anStett, “WalkinG doWn tHe road – our Four-leGGed Friend leadinG tHe Way” – PrinCe edWard iSland - Canada
24 • 2015 DeCeMBer The ArTfuL MinD
is it hard work? how do you divide your time? i know you have kids, too! Working is a great thing, but do you ever find it has gotten out of control, managing so much? Lynne: i don’t consider the work hard, but rather challenging, in a positive way. dividing my time sometimes needs to be better managed. the kids are grown, but that doesn’t mean they don’t look for interaction and getting together. yes, the cycle of calendar creation and production, running two years in parallel, heightens the activity and can draw me away from other things. i’m striving to create a balance.