Film shows Cory Trepanier exploring and painting in Kluane

April 30, 2015 · 0 Comments

By Bill Rea
The lands around Mount Logan are not easy to get into, but those who make the trip quickly learn the scenery is nothing short of spectacular.
It had to be filmed, and that’s what Caledon artist cory Trepanier did when he was in that part of Kluane National Park and Reserve in Yukon. The resulting film was called Truewild: Kluane, and it was recently screened at Landmark Cinemas in Bolton.
Running 86 minutes, the film follows Trepanier and his party through their long trek, through various different types of terrain, including snow on the slopes of Logan, bush and rushing water. There were moments of fantastic scenery, hardships along the way (such as blistered feet from his hiking boots) and even some moments of frustration. At one point, Trepanier was getting ready to paint an iceberg, only to watch it suddenly collapse right in front of him.
“Every once in a while, you get a big surprise,” he said on the film.
Trepanier commented that most people know him as an painter, but he has started doing work in film, commenting that it represents another end of the creative spectrum. He explained painting is very solidary, while the film work enables him to engage with other creative people.
“This film is really the creation of a lot of creative people,” he commented.
Made by Campside Productions, Trepanier said the film deals with “Nature’s raw power,” and he was out to “do all I can to bring it back on canvas.”
The vastness of Mount Logan was one of the main things he wanted to capture. “I’ll be one of the few artists ever to set up an easel and paint it,” he said in the narration of the film.
“I’ve come across Canada and made it to the edge,” he added. “It’s a whole new world. I can’t believe I’m actually here.”
There were also descriptions of certain hardships that were to expected on such a trip, such as painting in a tent while 15 centimeters of snow falls outside. He gave a brief description of digging a latrine in the snow.
“You’ve got to go with what nature gives you,” he remarked.
The cold was present, but he said the adrenaline rush helped to compensate for that. That was good, because it was hard to hold the paint brush wearing gloves.
Progress along the journey was sometimes slowed by the artist himself, who would see a scene he wanted to capture, meaning he had to set up his easel, get the paint on canvas, and then pack everything up again.
And throughout it all, he’s trying to determine just which scene he will devote to a nine-foot wide canvas.
Trepanier told the audience at the screening he plans to head north again this summer. “I missed a few places,” he said.
He added he plans to be away for about two months, criss-crossing the Arctic.
The recent showing was presented by the Bill Parnaby Team, with some of the proceeds of the evening going to Caledon Community Services.