Picnic at Orland's
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Picnic at Or;and's

 

More than 50 close friends and colleagues came together for the President's Potluck Picnic 2004 in Oakland, NS on Sunday, August  22 to bid long-time resident, goldsmith Orland Larson, ADIEU. He has lived in the Hyson Heritage House for 35 years, arriving with his wife and new-born daughter via Baffin Island and after a year  studying in Philadelphia. He had just accepted a job at the Nova Scotia College of Art & Design in Halifax where he created the Jewellery/Metalsmithing Department and subsequently worked there for 11 years.

 As the second president of the provincial craft council from 1973-74, he began holding these Potluck Picnics for NSDCC's executive officers. Larson has always been president of something  (the Alberta Craft Council, the Canadian Craft Council, a vice president of the World Craft Council, and his own business, Ilektrom Design Enterprises). He's held 12 President's Potluck  Picnics over the past 31 years. Often more than 100 creative minds would meet informally and socially just to have a pleasant afternoon together. The August weather was always superb and Sunday was no exception!

 This recent event was co-sponsored with the South Shore Arts Council, chaired by Elizabeth Brown, from Liverpool, NS who was there with her husband and two children. Susanne and Kim  also represented SSAC. Member Fran Underwood from Chester came with Dave Goudge, who had worked at the art college in Halifax when Orland did.

The first to arrive was Svein Fredriksen from Oslo, Norway.  Weaver Sandra Brownlee, formerly of Bedford, but now a teacher in a Girls' School in Philadelphia renewed their friendship by her presence. Tori Vienna, a former Canadian ice skater, came from  Hoboken, New Jersey. She and her husband now own a summer home in LaHave.

Ross Nicols and his jewellery-oriented daughter, Sarah arrived from Fredericton. Sonja Smith-Warren and Robert Warren came  from London, England. Pamela Nyznik, a 3rd grade pupil of Larson's 49 years ago on Great Bear Lake in the NWT came from Liverpool, NS where she now lives. 86-year old retired naval  officer, Cliff Willis, was the oldest guest present. He had worked as the Treasurer when Orland was NSDCC's president. Seven Bezansons from the Annapolis Valley renewed their 25-year  friendship with Larson. All had previously taken one of his annual spring or fall Introductory Jewellery Workshops.

Potlucks seldom fail. The weather was superbly beautiful and  Larson's 2-acre lawn was as well-groomed as a golf course. Guests gathered around, visiting with each other, eating and finally listened to Larson's Farewell Words.