“Landscape is a medium for ideas.”
– Robert Henri
“Whiter than the stones
of Stone Mountain –
autumn wind.”
– Basho
The details in a landscape mean nothing if they do not express some mood of nature felt by the artist/photographer.
“I strive to capture internal feelings and the external harmony of the natural world – the passing seasons of life.”
Jon Butler is a Zen practitioner and retired newspaper executive who changed his clothes to enjoy the passing seasons of life. He has been capturing and enjoying the light of La Cloche for more than 35 years, concentrating on solitary, contemplative landscapes and atmospheric effects.
The La Cloche Mountain range is one of the oldest in the world. The mountains were formed from sediments that eroded from major mountains to the north that were as high as the Rockies. It is a beautiful and spiritual area on the north shore of Georgian Bay with Killarney Park in the east and the town of Spanish in the west.
Generations have been intrigued by the quartzite mountains, crystal clear lakes, windswept pines and wildlife. The continually changing light and shadows have entranced artists, including members of the Group of 7, their contemporaries and lovers of the outdoors for decades.
The colour, details and shadows seen in his photographs are achieved through the use of camera settings and Jon’s unique sense of light. Jon’s exhibition photographs are usually taken at dawn during the few moments before the sun rises. He uses no filters or colour alterations and photographs with a variety of film and digital cameras including a 2 1/4 Mamiya, 4 X 5 Linhof, 8 X 10 Agfa and Nikon/Canon digital cameras. The photographs reflect years of meditation on the subject matter and they draw viewers into the light of La Cloche. All limited edition photographs are original, manipulative free and in a limited series of 10 or less.
Jon’s ‘Photo Haiku’ is a form of mixed media combining limited edition photographs and an original haiku. A haiku is the expression of temporary enlightenment, in which we see into life and in this case it is La Cloche.
Jon’s interpretive vision has resulted in the creation of a photomontage series combining original images.
His photographs are in private and corporate collections in Canada and the United States. They have appeared in numerous publications, books, and newspapers and on the CD ‘Willisville Mountain’ by Ian Tamblyn.
“The stark beauty of Jon Butler’s Cranberry Narrows was judged the Best Photography.” – The Manitoulin Expositor, September 15, 2004
“The close, even intimate, relationship and depth of feeling between the artist and the art is clear in each of the works. On the whole, the diligence and patience Butler invested in capturing the more elusive moments of nature’s splendor will affect viewers.” – The Sudbury Star, February 18, 2006
Jon and his wife Kerry live in the village of Willisville located in the heart of the La Cloche Mountains. They are founding members of the La Cloche Mountains Preservation Society and the Willisville Mountain Project, dedicated to preserve Willisville Mountain and the beauty of La Cloche.
In the winter months Jon and Kerry live in beautiful Pass-a-Grille, Florida where they continue to enjoy and capture the beauty around them.
In 2011 Jon published the book ‘Visions of La Cloche, Contemplating La Cloche with Words and Photographs’ and in 2013 he published the book ‘La Cloche Spirit; Contemplating Beginner’s Mind’. Jon’s exhibit ‘La Cloche Spirit: The Equivalent Light’ was part of the Toronto international photography show CONTACT2012 before exhibiting in Gore Bay and Sudbury in 2012.
Jon’s photographs are available at Turners Gallery of Little Current, The Art Gallery of Sudbury Boutique, Killarney Park Store, and The Red Dog in Whitefish Falls. Participate in your landscape.
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Jon Butler
Willisville / Pass-a-Grille
1-705-285-0823
lacloche@gmail.com
Curriculum Vitae – Jon Butler
Solo/Two Person Exhibitions
2013 Sudbury Library – Featured Artist – solo
2013 Art Gallery of Sudbury Boutique – Featured Artist – solo
2012 Vale Living with Lakes Centre, Sudbury – La Cloche Spirit: The Equivalent Light – solo
2012 Gore Bay Museum & Gallery – La Cloche Spirit: The Equivalent Light – solo
2012 CONTACT 2012, RBC Tower, Toronto – La Cloche Spirit: The Equivalent Light-solo
2007 The Kirkland Lake Museum of Northern History – Visions of La Cloche – solo
2007 Propeller Centre for the Visual Arts, Toronto – Visions of La Cloche -solo
2007 Centennial Museum & Gallery, Sheguiandah – Visions of La Cloche – solo
2007 Temiskaming Art Gallery, Haileybury – Visions of La Cloche – solo
2006 Espanola Little Theatre – solo
2006 Sudbury Theatre Centre – solo
2005 Turners Gallery of Little Current – solo
2005 Cedar Street Gallery Sudbury
2005 Black Cat Too, Sudbury
2004 Cedar Street Gallery, Sudbury
Group Exhibitions
2016 Wabi Sabi, St Joseph’s Island
2016 Manitoulin Art Tour, Turners Gallery
2015 Wabi Sabi, St Joseph’s Island
2015 Widgawa Arts Festival, La Cloche
2015 Manitoulin Art Tour, Turners Gallery
2014 Manitoulin Art Tour, Turners Gallery
2014 Widgawa Arts Festival, La Cloche
2013 Killarney Art Show
2013 Manitoulin Art Tour, Turners Gallery
2013 NEMI Library Celebrate Summer Art Show
2012 Killarney Art Show
2012 Manitoulin Art Tour, Turners Gallery
2011 Manitoulin Fine Arts Association Exhibit, Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah
2011 Killarney Art Show
2011 Manitoulin Art Tour, Turners Gallery
2010 Cross-Pollination, Gore Bay Museum & Gallery
2010 Manitoulin Fine Arts Association Exhibit, Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah
2010 Killarney Art Show
2010 Manitoulin Art Tour, Turners Gallery
2010 Willisville Mountain Project, Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah
2010 Willisville Mountain Project, Art Gallery of Sudbury
2010 Willisville Mountain Project, Temiskaming Art Gallery
2010 Willisville Mountain Project, Museum of Northern History, Kirkland Lake
2009 Manitoulin Fine Arts Association Exhibit, Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah
2009 Willisville Mountain Project, Whitefish Falls
2009 Artastic Fusion, M’chigeeng
2009 Local Colour, Art Gallery of Sudbury
2008 Cross-Pollination, Gore Bay Museum & Gallery
2008 Manitoulin Fine Arts Association Exhibit, Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah
2008 Killarney Art Show
2008 Manitoulin Art Tour, Turners Gallery
2008 Art of Nature, Green Living Show, Toronto
2008 Book Lover’s Ball, Toronto
2008 Artastic Fusion, M’chigeeng
2007 The Muskoka Place Gallery, Port Carling
2007 Killarney Art Show
2007 Manitoulin Art Tour, Turners Gallery
2007 Arta Gallery, Toronto – Rebirth
2007 Art of Nature, Green Living Show, Toronto
2007 Artastic Fusion, M’chigeeng
2006 Arta Gallery, Toronto – Timeless Beauty
2006 Deer Trail Studio Tour, Elliot Lake
2006 Manitoulin Art Tour, Turners Gallery
2006 Artastic Fusion, M’chigeeng
2005 The Deer Trail Studio Tour, Elliot Lake
2005 Manitoulin Art Tour, Turners Gallery
Juried Exhibitions
2019 La Cloche Art Show, Whitefish Falls
2019 Heritage Alive Art Show at the Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah
2018 La Cloche Art Show, Whitefish Falls
2018 Heritage Alive Art Show at the Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah
2017 La Cloche Art Show, Whitefish Falls
2017 Heritage Alive Art Show at the Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah
2016 La Cloche Art Show, Whitefish Falls
2016 Heritage Alive Art Show at the Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah
2015 La Cloche Art Show, Whitefish Falls
2015 Heritage Alive Art Show at the Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah
2014 La Cloche Art Show, Whitefish Falls
2014 Heritage Alive Art Show at the Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah
2013 Heritage Alive Art Show at the Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah
2013 La Cloche Art Show, Whitefish Falls
2013 RBC Dominion Securities “Art Impact” Juried Art Show – Sudbury
2012 Heritage Alive Art Show at the Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah
2012 La Cloche Art Show, Whitefish Falls
2011 Timeless: Zoomers & Immortality, Twist Gallery, Toronto
2011 Timeless: Zoomers & Immortality, Direct Energy Centre, Toronto
2011 Heritage Alive Art Show at the Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah
2011 La Cloche Art Show, Whitefish Falls
2011 RBC Dominion Securities ‘Art Impact’ Juried Art Show – Sudbury
2010 Heritage Alive Art Show at the Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah – Curator’s Award
2010 La Cloche Art Show, Whitefish Falls – first place photography
2009 La Cloche Art Show, Whitefish Falls
2008 Heritage Alive Art Show at the Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah – first place photography
2008 La Cloche Art Show, Whitefish Falls – honourable mention photography
2007 Heritage Alive Art Show at the Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah
2007 La Cloche Art Show, Whitefish Falls – honourable mention photography
2006 Heritage Alive Art Show at the Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah – honourable mention
2006 Massey Area Museum Art Show
2006 La Cloche Art Show, Whitefish Falls – second place photography
2005 Massey Area Museum Art Show
2005 Heritage Alive Art Show at the Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah
2005 La Cloche Art Show, Whitefish Falls – first place photography
2004 Massey Area Museum Art Show – first place photography
2004 Heritage Alive Art Show at the Centennial Museum of Sheguiandah – first place photography
2004 La Cloche Art Show, Whitefish Falls – honourable mention photography
2003 La Cloche Art Show, Whitefish Falls – honourable mention photography
1995 La Cloche Art Show, Whitefish Falls – first place photography
1994 La Cloche Art Show, Whitefish Falls – honourable mention photography
1986 La Cloche Art Show, Willisville
Grants
2011 Ontario Arts Council Northern Arts
2009 Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance Program
2007 Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance Program
2006 Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance Program
Recent Bibliography
2013 Photograph included in ‘In the Footsteps of the Group of Seven’
2013 A Willisville & La Cloche Cookbook
2013 Sudbury Living Magazine – Summer edition
2013 ‘La Cloche Spirit: Cotemplating Beginner’s Mind’ a book of photographs & haiku
2011 ‘White Pine’ used in an article in Hydro One’s ‘Between the Lines’
2011 ‘White Pine’ used in an article in ‘The Art of Living’, artoflivingguide.org
2011 The Manitoulin Expositor, July 13, ‘Turners of Little Current host book signing’
2011 ‘Visions of La Cloche, Contemplating La Cloche with Words and Photographs’ a book of photographs and haiku by Jon Butler
2011 The Mid-North Monitor, Espanola, June 8, ‘Local artists showing in Sudbury’
2011 The Manitouin Expositor, April 20 ‘Political action saves Willisville Mountain’
2011 The Sudbury Star, April 16 ‘Preservationists laud decision as historic’
2011 Globe and Mail, Friday, April 15 ‘Multinational mining company surrenders land rights to area which inspired Group of Seven
2010 ‘Manitoulin Cross Pollination, A Tour Through Time’ catalogue
2009 ‘La Cloche Country, It’s History, Art and People’ by J. Waddington, D. O’Neill & D. Coleman
2009 ‘Footprints: Legacy of the Group of Seven’ – McMichael Gallery http://www.groupofseven.ca
2009 ‘The Willisville Mountain Project’ catalogue
Jon Butler Photography 