TARA WILKINSON I VORTEX
Fine Art Photographic Portraits
MARY ANN FARRELL
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Mary Ann Farrell is a gardener, chef, lover of the arts in all its forms, a budding writer, broadcaster, and sings in a choir. She is also now the Venue and Marketing Manager for The Andrew in Picton.
She comes by her love of the arts honestly. Born in London, England to parents who were journalists, her maternal grandfather was a concert violinist and occasional conductor for the London philharmonic. Her maternal grandmother was a stage actress in London who performed with the likes of Sir John Gielgud and Sir Laurence Olivier, among others. Her siblings are poets, editors and publishers. Mary Ann lived and worked in the U.K. and the U.S. before immigrating to Canada. She enjoyed a successful career as a Senior Marketing Executive working in live music, theatre and the arts for such behemoths as Walt Disney Theatrical, CPI/Live Nation, Madison Square Gardens, Luminato and the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. She retired to the County in 2020 but admits, “I don’t know if I chose PEC or it chose me”. Her first task was: to finally get her driver’s license! One could say the true test of a great community is when things get tough. The County circled the wagons around her when her 96-year old mother fell ill. Mary Ann had brought her mum from Toronto to live with her and her partner Ian during Covid. The community and the County health team (including a rogue nurse practioner wearing cowboy boots) came her rescue. Several months later, her mum passed away … but Mary Ann says she could not have made it through that difficult time without everyone’s care. A community of strangers became extended friends and family. Mary Ann has become an active volunteer in Prince Edward County for numerous events, programs, festivals and causes. She is co-host of ARTSCENE on 99.3 County FM. She is also a budding writer discovering her inner voice and attempting to record and share her life experiences. |
Mary Ann Farrell - HOW WILL MY GARDEN GROW? © Tara Wilkinson
Her happiest moments while living here have included welcoming the first guests to her Lilac Lane Bed and Breakfast;; planting gardens, cooking and sharing meals and great conversations with interesting people. |
Featured Song:
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Astrid Young © Tara Wilkinson
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Mary Ann's Featured Song:Just like the delicate art of composing a dish or stringing together a captivating story, the act of "laying something down" is the ultimate act of creative faith. It requires vulnerability to pause, wait for inspiration to strike, and trust that the medium will capture the essence of what you are trying to express.
The parallels between the lyric "Lay me down" and Mary Ann's creative pursuits are striking: The Writer & Broadcaster lays down ink, voice, and time, trusting that the message will resonate with the listener or reader. The Chef lays down flavors, textures, and ingredients on a plate, creating a fleeting but deeply sensory experience. The Arts Lover patiently waits in the theatre seat for the curtain to rise, fully receptive to the magic of the performance. |
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Featured Wine:
2023 Estate Cabernet Franc
Three Dog Winery 100% Estate-grown Cabernet Franc hand-picked on October 16, 2023 from the Estate Vineyard of Three Dog Winery. This elegant wine has notes of ripe red cherry, black current, and blackberry, with subtle notes of olive, graphite, and mocha.
Three Dog Winery
1920 Fish Lake Road, Picton, ON, K0K 2T0 (613) 403-4343 / www.threedogwine.com |
Our hearts are complex mechanisms. They need tenderness and strength in equal measure. Like this silky wine, recognition of kismet comes after the introduction. As we indulge, we must acknowledge that, sometimes, vulnerability is the true strength. We give of ourselves and reap the rewards, not just in love everlasting, but in a deeper understanding of what drives our longing." Astrid Young, Sommelier
