Episode 19: Tom Thomson as a Myth and Legend

This is the last of a three-part series on the life, the body, and the legend of Canada’s artist icon Tom Thomson.  In this episode, I will focus on the mythology that that evolved around Thomson from the 1940s to today. Then, I’ll try to address the legend by assembling the thoughts on the subject by three great writers Roy MacGregor, Sherrill Grace, and Gregory Klages.  The idea is to try to understand why our imaginations and reinventions of who he was have become such a part of the Canadian national identity. Lastly, I’ll share, as a long-time Canoe Lake resident with a wink and a nudge, my ‘Inventing Thomson' contribution. In addition are a few more Thomson-related musical interludes from the talented Ian Tamblyn’s CD Walking in the Footsteps - Celebrating the Group of Seven. Don’t forget to check out his website at www.iantamblyn.com.