ArtsceneSix national art Retiree finds new career path in musicBy Dominik KurekRob Lackie has Songs just started award finalists OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFbecome her vocal coming to me. I just coach and music Owanted to write songs akville-born Carolyn Booth found a producer. When she exhibit worknew joy in life when she retired from look-comes to him with about each of my kidsing after children at a daycare.a new song and and some of my foster Oakville Galleries is showcasing a groupNow, that newfound love is becoming sings it, he picks up exhibit of work created by Ontario artistschildren, some of my available to the wider public as the 66-year-the guitar and repli-long-listed for a prestigious national award.siblings and some of myold is releasing her debut EP album later cates the sound on The exhibit, titled Sobey Art Award: 2011good friends and I just this month.the instrument.Ontario Long List, is curated by MarnieTitled More Than a Song, the five-track I get the melody enclosed it in theirFleming and runs from June 24 to Sept. 3.album is the selection of work from the past in my head when I Christmas gift.The show features works by the six Ontariotwo years.get the words, artists nominated for this years nationalPrior to starting the project, Booth did Booth said. Sobey Art Award. The annual award is forCarolyn Booth,not, and still does not, have music theory Because I wouldnt artists under the age of 40 and includes a topmusicianand did not take vocal lessons. She didnt know what key any-prize of $50,000, along with cash awards toeven know she had such an affinity for thing is in, I dont runners up.music.good friends and I just enclosed it in theirhave any theory background, I sing it into a The artists are Aleesa Cohene, GarethIve been busy raising kids all these Christmas gift.digital tape recorder that I carry around in Long, Derek Sullivan, Josh Thorpe, Danielyears so typically, especially with daycare Originally, she thought she would singmy purse. If its two oclock in the morning Young and Christian Giroux.kids, I wouldnt have on the radio with without accompaniment, not having hadand I get a tune in my head, I sing it, and I Past winners of the award include suchmusic appropriate to me. I would have any music training. She wanted to get thewrite it on any scrap of paper I can get my artists as Brian Jungen, Jean-Pierre Gauthier,Twinkle Twinkle Little Starplaying for the music onto CD and would need help from ahands on.Annie Pootoogook, Michel de Broin, Timkids, she said.family member, though this was meant toWith Lackies help, her music includes Lee, David Altmejd, Daniel Barrow and oth-Booth has had many children in her life. be a surprise. Then she made a discoveryinstrumentation.ers.She and her husband Berry have had chil-that she could do it without the help of fam-She practices music at River 16 and Oakville Galleries will have an openingdren of their own and now have grandchil-ily members.when the song is ready, it is recorded. ceremony for the summer exhibit on Sunday,dren. They have also been foster parents to When I opened The Oakville Beaver onI go Wednesday mornings, rain or shine June 26 at both its locations. The ceremonymany children in Halton Region over the June 3, 2009 and saw this page-plus onor snow. I dont care how my health is, I get will run from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at thepast 39 years.River 16, which is four minutes from mythere.Centennial Square location in downtownThen she got an idea, at a recent house, you could see how excited I was toThough she has found a new activity in Oakville and then from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at itsChristmas: to include music in her gifts to think, Oh, gosh, I dont have to wait forlife, the musician is not done taking care of Gairloch Gardens location at 1306 Lakeshoreher children about them.anyone in my family to help me with this. Ichildren, having grandchildren to look after Rd. E. Fleming will be present to speak aboutSongs just started coming to me, she can quickly get this done now, shein the daytime. the art.said. I just wanted to write songs about recalled.The album is listed at $10 and is available For a list of gallery hours and more infor-each of my kids and some of my foster chil-Furthermore, the studio was able to pro-at www.carolynboothmusic.com. For more mation, visit www.oakvillegalleries.com.dren, some of my siblings and some of my vide that musical background. Studio ownerinformation, visit the website.www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, June 22, 2011 22