Go Fish!

January 7, 2018 By Brett in Art, Ontario, Photography Tags: Canada, Douglas Coupland, Fishing, Inspiration, Parks, Public Art, Sculpture, Toronto, Urban Art 43 Comments

During the week after Christmas Toronto’s temperature plummeted to a 57-year record low. Brrrrr! Bundled up tightly against such crazy wintery weather, the day was slightly brightened by coming across this group of colorful sculptures of fishing bobbins. Situated in Canoe Landing Park in the CityPlace neighborhood, these cheerful works were created by noted Vancouver artist Douglas Coupland. Elsewhere in the park there is an oversized sculpture of a red canoe (also by Coupland), in which park-goers can sit and look out across Gardiner Expressway toward nearby Lake Ontario. Clever and fun subject for sculptures and another great example of the vibrant public art that can be found throughout metro Toronto.

Toronto Loves Public Art!

November 5, 2016 By Brett in Art, Ontario, Photography Tags: Canada, Canadian Art, Creativity, Inspiration, Modern Art, Public Art, Sculpture, Statues, Toronto, Urban Art 43 Comments

bdsc_1234

“Large Two Forms” (1966 & 1969), Henry Moore

Toronto’s diversity is reflected in the wide array of public art, especially sculpture, that can be seen on block after block in its downtown core. Encounters with public art as we hustle from place to place provide moments for reflection and inspiration and help to remind us of our connections to deeper things and to one another.

These pieces from out and about merely scratch the surface of the city’s offerings. (I forgot to get the titles for a couple of these pieces.)

“Immigrant Family” (2007), Tom Otterness

“It” (2006), Michael Christian

“Anadyomene” (1983), Maryon Kantaroff

“Untitled” (2012), Jun Kaneko

“Megaptera (Great Wings)” (1993), George Schmerholz

“The Pasture” (1985), Joe Fafard

“Parent I” (1984), Barbara Hepworth

Artist to Appreciate: David Taylor

September 27, 2015 By Brett in Art, Nova Scotia Tags: Art, Canada, Folk Art, Nova Scotia, Photography, Sculpture 20 Comments

~ Sunburst Wood Carving, by David Taylor ~

Driving along the rural back roads of the Nova Scotia shore in Kings County, I stumbled upon a classic cedar-shingled house and yard in Black Rock adorned with brightly colored wood carvings that made for an irresistible stop. As I snapped a few photos, the property’s owner, David Taylor, amiably introduced himself and explained that the menagerie of carved-wood creatures and other whimsical sculptures spread in every direction across the land are his creations. He’s even affixed a pea-green sea monster carving about 100 yards (or 90 meters) offshore that sits atop the water’s surface at high tide.

Taylor is a true folk artist in the best sense of that term. One small carving led to another and eventually Taylor found himself having devoted many years to lovingly making wood objects from locally sourced driftwood and other materials for his own enjoyment and that of others. In addition to his many sculptures, Taylor spends time making distinctive rustic bird houses, each graced with the weathered, long-bearded face of a coastal fisherman and which he regularly sells. His work is sufficiently appreciated that the nearby town of Canning recently festooned utility poles along its main business district with about two dozen of Taylor’s birdhouses in a wonderful public art display with local businesses adopting particular birdhouses.

Taylor regularly undertakes commissioned work and has more than a few birdhouses and other reasonably priced carvings available. Although he doesn’t have a website, Taylor can be reached at francesanddavidtaylor@gmail.com.

Mother and Baby Whale, by David Taylor

Iconic Nova Scotia Fisherman, by David Taylor

Graceful Mermaid, by David Taylor

Nova Scotia Lobsterman, by David Taylor

Carved Pole and Mermaid Wind Vane used for a clothes-line, by David Taylor

Wood Butterfly, by David Taylor

Whimsical Starfish, by David Taylor

Contented Bluejay, by David Taylor

Grizzled Face Birdhouse, by David Taylor

Seaside Denizen, by David Taylor

Curious Wood Storks with Wrought Iron Legs, by David Taylor

Another David Taylor Birdhouse in Canning, N.S.

David Taylor, posing with his Nova Scotia Lobsterman

Soaring Dolphin, by David Taylor

The Watchful Sun, by David Taylor

HMCS Sailor, by David Taylor

Bright Sunburst, by David Taylor

Great Blue Whale, by David Taylor

David Taylor Birdhouse in Canning, N.S.

“Now God be praised. I will die in peace.”: Early Canadian Military Heroes

April 5, 2015 By Brett in Art, History, Ontario, Photography Tags: Canada, History, Isaac Brock, James Wolfe, John Simcoe, Samuel de Champlain, Sculpture, Toronto 8 Comments

Stricken at the battle for Quebec City in 1759, Major General James Wolfe uttered those words as he lay dying just as his troops’ victory was assured. Imposing bas relief sculptures of Wolfe and three other early Canadian military heroes — Samuel de Champlain, John Graves Simcoe and Isaac Brock — grace the facade of the Archives and Canadiana Building at the University of Toronto. Like their real-life counterparts centuries earlier, these sculptures keep a watchful and weathered gaze upon the surrounding landscape.

Samuel de Champlain (1574-1635)

+++

James Wolfe (1727-1759)

+++

John Graves Simcoe (1752-1806)

+++

Isaac Brock (1769 -1812)

Toronto Public Art: Barbara Hepworth’s “Parent 1”

April 1, 2015 By Brett in Art, History, Ontario, Photography Tags: Art, Canada, History, Inspiration, Public Art, Sculpture, Toronto 8 Comments

“Parent 1” (1984), by Barbara Hepworth — Her modern work calls to mind Inuit forms.

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”

~~ Thomas Merton

Urban Art: Bronze Cows in Toronto

March 22, 2015 By Brett in Art, Ontario, Photography Tags: Art, Canada, Cityscape, Cows, Mies van der Rohe, Ontario, Sculpture, Toronto, Urban Art 52 Comments

Art in urban settings is great to bring us out of ourselves and to refresh our minds. A wonderful example is artist Joe Fafard’s The Pasture, a group of bronze cows posed lazily resting in the bucolic setting of the Toronto-Dominion Centre office park (designed by Mies van der Rohe), is perfect for providing an unexpected feeling of being far away from the nearby hustle and bustle of the Financial District.

Janis Woode’s Thought-Provoking Sculptures

November 16, 2014 By Brett in Art, British Columbia Tags: Art, British Columbia, Canada, Canadian Art, Janis Woode, Metal Arts, Metals, Sculpture 13 Comments

Janis Woode Personal Tornado

While reading a recent issue of Arabella magazine I was captivated by the intriguing and thought-provoking sculptures made from steel, wire and other metals created by Salt Spring Island, B.C. artist Janis Woode. Although some of her works suggest a whimsical element, Woode also manages to convey an array of deep emotions to which I expect many of her viewers can readily relate. See more of her cleverly crafted art at her website here.