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Sacred Worth

Alice Reed. In 1994 the province of Nova Scotia embarked on a multi-year planning and public consultation process to designate 31 new wilderness areas. Artist Alice Reed was motivated to capture their essence in her art. Not content to paint by interpreting photographs, Ms. Reed experienced first hand each of these distinct, and often remote wild places before rendering her impressions with brush and paint. Travelling by foot, canoe, kayak, and on some occasions even by helicopter, Alice sketched, photographed, and sensed the spirit of these special areas. After two and a half years of research and adventure, this magnificent body of work was launched, in partnership with the Nature Trust, as the Sacred Worth Exhibition. The Exhibition toured the Maritime provinces from 1998 through 2000 with proceeds from the sale of catalogues donated to the Trust.

Sacred Worth (91 Kb)
Read Alice's impressions of the project from the Sacred Worth catalogue.

The Nature Trust would like to thank the major sponsors and all the other sponsors, donors, and supporters who made this event possible, including the over 60,000 people who attended the tour showings. Special thanks go to Maggie Moss, the project co-ordinator and longtime volunteer with the Nature Trust. Finally, and most of all, a heartfelt thank you to Alice Reed for her enduring contribution to the Nature Trust, and wilderness protection in Nova Scotia.

The Paintings

The 31 paintings depict each of the areas the Nova Scotia government has chosen to protect as Wilderness as part of its Protected Areas Strategy. We have reproduced a selection of the paintings here although we could not possibly convey the detail of the originals. You're encouraged to drop by Alice's studio in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, to see her art in person.

A Maze of Lakes, White Lake
1997, 38 x 50.8 cm, watercolour on paper

Autumn Falls, Economy River
1997, 67.9 x 46 cm, watercolour on paper

Coastal Cliffs at Shallop Cove, Scatarie Island
1998, 43.2 x 104.2 cm, watercolour on paper

Crimson Huckleberry, The Big Bog
1998, 26.7 X 50.8 cm, watercolour on paper

Dawn, Terence Bay
1996, 73.7 x 102.9 cm, watercolour on paper
Private gift, Collection of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia

Deep Peace of the Winter Forest, Ogden Round Lake
1998, 75.5 X 35.5 cm watercolour on paper

Elder Woods, Portipique River
1997, 101.5 x 47 cm, watercolour on paper
Collection of Michael & Margaret Moss

Ephemeral Mist, Polletts Cove - Aspy Fault
1997, 33 x 47 cm, watercolour on paper
Private Collection

Eskers and Pickerelweed, Bowers Meadows
1997, 23.2 x 57.4 cm, watercolour on paper
Private Collection

Evening Cirrus, Cloud Lake
1997, 59.6 x 81.1 cm, watercolour on paper

Fall Reflections, Tidney River
1998, 26.7 x 50.8 cm, watercolour on paper

Fire in the Sky, Tobeatic
1998, 47 x 102.2 cm, watercolour on paper

Flurries on Sugarloaf Mountain, Sugarloaf Mountain
1996, 41.9 x 68.9 cm watercolour on paper

Gentle Spring Fen, McGill Lake
1998, 26.7 X 50.8 cm, watercolour on paper

Golden Hillside, Middle River Framboise
1998, 26.7 X 50.8 cm, watercolour on paper

Granite-Strewn Shoreline, Tangier Grand Lake
1997 ,36 x 40.5 cm, watercolour on paper

High Upon the Granite Ridge, Waverley - Salmon River Long Lake
1996, 69.2 x 48.3 cm, watercolour on paper
Collection of Howard Epstein

Meadow and Drumlins, Boggy Lake
1997, 36.2 x 56 cm, watercolour on paper

Meandering Stillwater, Alder Grounds
1997, 68.5 x 47 cm, watercolour on paper
Collection of Fred & Elizabeth Fountain

October Blueberries, Bonnet Lake Barrens
1998, 57.1 x 78.7 cm, watercolour on paper
Collection of Fred & Elizabeth Fountain

Purling Mist, Trout River
1998, 44.7 x 66.3 cm, watercolour on paper

Riffle and Pool, Liscomb River
1997, 30.5 x 46.4 cm, watercolour on paper

Setting at the Rise, Jim Campbells Barren
1997, 43.2 x 104.2 cm, watercolour on paper

Spinnigan Lakes, French River
1997, 47 x 68.5 cm, watercolour on paper

Suspended in Time, Clattenburg Brook
1998, 26.7 x 50.8 cm., watercolour on paper

Verdant Valley, Northeast Margaree River
1997, 33 x 44.5 cm, watercolour on paper
Private Collection

View from the Barrens, Polletts Cove - Aspy Fault
1997, 29.2 x 55.9 cm, watercolour on paper
Private Collection

Waterfall, North River
1997, 66.8 x 34.7 cm, watercolour on paper
Collection of Bob Bancroft

Whale Bones, Canso Coastal Barrens
1998, 43.2 x 104.2 cm, watercolour on paper

Windblown Pines and Bedrock, Lake Rossignol
1998, 59.6 x 81.1 cm, watercolour on paper

Winding Through the Canyon, Middle River
1997, 49 x 33.3 cm, watercolour on paper

Winging Point, Gabarus
1997, 73.2 x 102.5 cm, watercolour on paper

You can share the feeling of Sacred Worth with Alice Reed Note Cards, available on the Merchandise section of our website.

Major Sponsors


Natural Resources Nova Scotia & Environment Nova Scotia	Infiniti Halifax	AMJ Campbell Van Lines

Supporting Sponsors


Mail Star/Chronicle Herald	Nova Scotia Power Inc.	Sable Offshore Energy Inc.

Valued Sponsors


Stora	Canadian Wildlife Federation	Nova Scotia Arts Council

Contributing Sponsors


Economical Insurance Group	Seagull Pewter	Chiron Diagnostics

World Wildlife Fund