B.C. woman set to embark on ambitious art adventure with donkey

Two countries, 1,609 kilometres, 200 paintings, one donkey and an artist are shaping up to be the makings of an epic art adventure.

Sharon Bamber, an artist based near Nakusp, B.C.,plans to trek the Way of St. James starting in September one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during the Middle Ages.

Her path will take herfrom Le Puy-en-Velay in southern France,over the Pyrenees mountains and across Spainthrough Santiago de Compostela to FisterrainGalicia.

And she is travelling with a donkey named Midas. Every eightkilometresshe plans to stop and paint the landscape in the area.

'Since 950 A.D.'

"It's something I really feel is important," said Bamber during CBC's Radio West.

"The route has been important to people since 950 A.D."

Indeed, the path has been of great consequence to pilgrims, historians and artists for centuries. Numerous artists have painted works along the trail and certainstretchesof the Way are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

In the past, pilgrims wouldtravel along it often by donkey to pray at the shrine of theapostle, Saint James the Great, in thecathedralofSantiago de Compostela, his apparent final resting place.

"People are still walking it today. The connection with the landscape and the history is really important to me," said Bamber.

She said she was motivatedto take the journey, because she was "dismayed" at the disconnection she recently perceived between people and their natural surroundings.

Midas the donkey will pack Bamber'sart supplies, such as her easel. The animal will be provided to Bamberby a group of art enthusiastswhen she arrives in France.

WhileBamberadmitted she doesn't have a lot of experience working with donkeys, she said she has met the animal in the past and has trained with it for the adventure.

Shesaid that to her knowledge no modern-day artist has embarked on such an art journey along the Way, and no one has ever stopped every eightkilometres to paint.

Bamberis currently raising funds for her journey which she hopes will yield200 paintings.

With files from Radio West

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