Patti McTaggart's 12 Years of Paintings of River of Time Displayed
Art Highlights Opening of 20th Annual Living History Encampment
September 27, 2009
By: Dave Rogers
River of Time chairperson Jan Rau, Abraham Lincoln re-enactor Fred Priebe and Col. Lee Clayton of Bay City admire Patti McTaggart paintings.
Artist Patti McTaggart chats with French era re-enactors at art exhibit at display at opening of 20th annual event Friday night.
For 12 years artist Patti McTaggart went to the River of Time.
She photographed, sketched and painted the scenes she saw that recalled historic times in North America.
Voyageurs from the period of discovery, Indians who inhabited the land, French and British officers vying for control of the continent, familial groups from various eras -- all caught Ms. McTaggart's eye.
"Sometimes I would work from a photograph and other times I would sketch and paint the scene on site," recalled the artist, who worked in mainly pastel watercolors.
Now in a wheelchair from a debilitating bone disease, Ms. McTaggart's friends took 56 of her paintings, had them matted and set up an art exhibit at the Bay County Community Center.
The display coincided with the opening of the 20th annual River of Time on Friday night.
As re-enactors, including Abraham Lincoln (Fred Priebe) and his military aide, Col. Lee Clayton, Civil War soldiers, cowboys, Indians, World War II soldiers and voyageurs swarmed around, the buzz about Ms. McTaggart's art was positive and enthusiastic.
"It really brings back the memories of this event over 20 years," one re-enactor was heard to say. There was lots of talk about how the event was drenched in rain two years ago, eight years ago and at other times in the past.
But Ms. McTaggart's startlingly real paintings brought back the sunny, memorable scenes that every person who has attended River of Time can recall with enjoyment.