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Merry Christmas!

The snow fence drawing and the poem appeared on the December 1960 Christmas card designed by James Reaney.
The snow fence drawing and the poem appeared on the December 1960 Christmas card designed by James Reaney.

Beside the road the snow fence stands
And holds the snow in slatty hands.
Once our humanity did hold
A dove of white, a boy of gold.

James Reaney, 1960

James Reaney and Ian Chunn (son-in-law) with granddaughter Edie Reaney Chunn, December 25, 1996 in London, Ontario.
James Reaney and Ian Chunn (son-in-law) with granddaughter Edie Reaney Chunn, December 25, 1996 in London, Ontario.
James Reaney on a winter walk with his son James Stewart Reaney, December 25, 1996.
James Reaney on a winter walk with his son James Stewart Reaney, December 25, 1996.
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Merry Christmas!

“Hark! Who knocks at our door so late?” Watercolour sketch by James Reaney, undated. (Possibly from 2001 and perhaps based on a childhood drawing or an illustration for a story. The old house, the tree, and the windmill are like the farmhouse near Stratford where James Reaney grew up.)

All the best for the holidays and for 2015

December 26, 1996 in London, Ontario: James Reaney at the piano with his granddaughter, Edie Reaney Chunn (age 3 months), and his son-in-law, Ian Chunn. Photo by Wilma McCaig.

December 25, 1996 in London, Ontario: James Reaney with granddaughter Edie and daughter Susan Reaney. Photo by Wilma McCaig.

 

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Merry Christmas!

 

Winter Sunset
Fading slow.
Dark trees, red sun
White snow.

Short the days
And long the nights
Until our earth
Sets things to rights

All the best for the holidays and for 2014

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Merry Christmas!

Linocut by James Reaney, 1965

On his birthday there is a blue sky
In the swale there’s clear ice
Two boys  skate an X, the Greek letter Chi
Because it stands for Christ

MERRY CHRISTMAS

from the Reaneys
1965

James Reaney made this linocut design in December 1965 and printed a set of Christmas cards for friends and family at the Alphabet Press in London, Ontario.

Merry Christmas and All the best for 2013!

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Merry Christmas!

“Angel” woodcut by James Reaney, 1980

Yes we are that too: we are everything who feel it.
Everything that has meaning has the same meaning as angels: these
hoverers and whirrers: occupied with us.
…
When the band of the moment breaks there will come angelic
recurrence.

— Colleen Thibaudeau Reaney, from “This Elastic Moment”

All the best for the holidays and for 2012