Bradfords celebrate 'weird genetic trait' during family art show (10 photos)

The Bradford Family Art Show celebrated the Bradfords' uncanny artistic genes at Mockingbird Hill Farm Sunday, as the church and log cabin on the farm hosted 85 works spanning four generations.

“This is a real opportunity for all of us to see what each of us are doing,” said artist Cindy Hatt. “It can’t really be helped – we just do it.”

The Bradford family legacy, says Hatt, stems from her grandmother and early Algoma Arts Society member Louise Bradford.

“When she was doing her artwork, my dad and his brother and sisters would all sit in the kitchen, and they’d do their artwork,” Hatt said. “So that’s how they learned it, from her.”

Hatt’s father, Doug Bradford, served as an artist for the Canadian Armed Forces in Victoria, B.C.

Her uncle, Kenny, also did visual art for the Canadian Armed Forces at one time.

“They’ve made that their life’s work. Even if they have other jobs, they’re still creative at home on their own,” Hatt said.

That aptitude for art, Hatt says, was then passed down not only to her, but to her siblings and cousins as well.

They’re all photographers, sculptors, writers, filmmakers and painters by trade.

The grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the Bradford family have also gravitated toward the arts.

Hatt’s 16 year-old daughter, Sadie, who had a couple of her painted skateboards on display in the log cabin during the art show, wants to go to school in order to become an animator and filmmaker.

The youngest artist with a painting in the show is Mac Bradford, who’s just 11 months old.

“It’s a weird genetic trait,” Hatt said with a laugh.

Sunday’s event at Mockingbird Hill Farm marks the second time the Bradfords have hosted their own family art show.

The first one happened in 2011, featuring roughly 30 works.

Hatt says it’s great to celebrate the good times with her ever-growing family.

“I lost my sister – my little sister – a few years ago,” she said. “It was not a happy kind of thing for us to all get together, but we all came together and we’re tighter, I think, from that.”

“This is a happy way to get together.”