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’Golden career kick-started by Toronto Argos 20 - “WHITCHURCH-STOUFFVILLE THIS MONTH" "My 50 year career as a professional artist started with a phone call." lohn Roberts was recall- ing the time his uncle, Bob Moran. who was president of the Toronto Argonauts The cover of the 1952 Toronto Argonauts program was John Roberts' very first com- mission. The Stouffville artist was an avid football fan who considered pursuing a career in the sport until his artistic aspirations took him in a very different direction. “Jammod” Sessions 1 submit that, when Councillors are ‘dumped” with over- loaded agendas, they should DEMAND that the Council meeting be adjourned and reached uled with a reasonable number of items. Stouffvillc, ON L4A 7X5 1 [7| 4 McCowan Road By Kate Gilderdale Smuflvllle This Month Horse Drawn Hay-Sleigh Rides Birthday Parties (at farm or your place) Pony Rides, School Tours Brownie Cub Groups Beaver Groups, Senior Groups I submit that Councillors should NOT show disrespect to their Ward residents by walk- ing out of Council meet- ings/Public Hearings before listening to pub- lic concems. Not Interested OI‘IICI Football Club from I950- l952, called to ask his nephew If he would be Interested In Illustrating the cover of the club's I952 program. "This was my very first art iob, for which I was paid a balloon tire bicycle, an Argo iacket. and a football with all the (905) 640-PONY (7669) I submit that Councillors should pub- licly REFUSE to accept late additions to Council agendas since they are given no time for dis- cussions with their Ward residents. 1mm 80m and: (mm 11mins Jun No Way! ll'Cl playets' names on It." That year the Argos won the Grey Cup, and the young artist also received a Grey Cup ring for his efforts. The following month, William R, Templeton, who owned a large art company in the city, visited Northern your basement V Inside or outside repairs www.drybasements.com Clarke Contracting Ltd. (905) 472-4861 a/ Crack Injections/Drainage systems V Free Consultation before you finish Operating Deficits | submit that Public Library Boards should set up adequate cash flows from d'mir unused surplus and reserve moneys, and be able to avoid accu- mulating major operat ing deficits Vocational School where Mr. Roberts was studying art. "lHel saw a pen and ink Illustration I had done for Stephen Leacock's 'Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town'." Mr. Templeton was so impressed he suggested to Mr. Roberts“ teacher that the talented youngster should contact the art edi- tor of the Canadian Red Cross Iunior magazine, and thus began a long and illustrious artistic career. "Nineteen fifty-two turned out to be a very exciting year for this l7-yearâ€"old vocational art student." noted Mr. Roberts "The only thing I've got left (from the Argosl is the iacket‘ The ring was stolen in New York City and I kicked the football around because it was a profes- sional football and I played in high school," In fact he had seriously conâ€" sidered the sport as a potential career option until late intervened. Over the years, he has had many memorable experiences, one of which occurred in the early IQOOS. "We were living and working in New York City when a Christmas card arrived at our apartment. It was signed 'Vincent Van Gogh‘." Mr. Roberts showed it to his wife. Elizabeth. observing that someone must be playing a ioke on the couple. "It's no ioke. lohn," his wife replied. "Mr. Van Gogh is my father's boss." He was also the son of the artist's younger brother, Theo, who named him in honour of his famous uncle. "No weeks into lanuary l964, a second card arrived from Vincent Van Gogh. This time it was an invitation to view his uncle's work at the Guggenheim Museum." On arrival they were greeted by Mr. Van Gogh and his wife, and taken on a tour of the top floor of the museum. "The archi- tect Frank Lloyd Wright had designed the museum in the round," said Mr. Roberts. "We walked down and around, viewing Van Fifty years after he designed the 1952 Argos' program cover, John Roberts is seen creating a new work of art with the Roadside Painters, a group of local artists who meet regularly to capture the beauty of our rural land- scape. Goghs on both sides of the walls. It was the experi- ence of a lifetime." Last fall. on Sept. I l. he was working on his island cottage on Big Kashegabog Lake, when he noticed that things were unusually quiet. "We saw no planes bringing in cottagers; only a helicopter flying over our island. We have no radio or television at our cabin." On that day. he said. "the water around our island was like glass. very unusual for a northern lake. For this reason I decided to paint a water- colour of this glassâ€"like water." He also did a paint- ing of the pine trees on the island before leaving for Stouffville the following day. "When I finished the paintings, we went to pick up our car at the local air- port. The pilot was there. He had a funny look on his face and | asked him why he wasn't flying." He told Mr. Roberts that all air traf- fic had been grounded as a result of the terrorist attack in New York. "We were in shock and I felt empathy for the new president, who had only been in office eight months." He decided to send both the paintings he had Member of the Canadlan Msoclatlon of Professional Pet Dog 'fialnels Educated in Behaviour Management 0 Certified in Pet first Aid 0 ARC C inim‘ (mud Citizen Progr im I} - Agility 5‘! Llfe' s Ruff 4 I 6‘568‘3222 (Markham) Obedience Training Debbie Reynolds - binder Daytime. Evening 8 Weekend Classes done on Sept. II to the US. president as an expression of sympathy. In lune, Mr. Roberts' gift was acknowledged in a letter from the Oval Office. perâ€" sonally signed by George w. Bush. The president's message read, "Thank ybu for your kind gesture. I appreciate your good wishes.“ Mr. Roberts is 3 found- ing member of the Roadside Painters, a group of area artists who get together regularly to paint in outdoor locations. Works by the group were featured at an exhibition at the Clock Tower building during this year's Strawberry Festival. "We're really grateful to Janine Zeck, because she did most of the work on that,“ he said. An art teacher at Stouffville District Secondary School for many years. Mr. Roberts is a strong supporter of com- munity causes and local arts groups. and a regular contributor to the Latcham Gallery's fundraising aucâ€" tion. He is presently donating three paintings a month to the Care and Share shop to help raise funds for the Mennonite Central Council. AUGUST 2002