The Sculptors Society of Canada (SSC) celebrated its 95th anniversary with two shows in the Canadian Sculpture Centre, titled 95 – and still going strong.
Founded by some of the most prestigious sculptors in Canadian art history, the SSC has been exhibiting and raising the profile of sculpture in Canada for 95 years. The mandate of this society is firmly established by a collective belief in education, partnership, cooperation and support regarding sculpture; to discover and foster young talent, to raise the profile of Canadian sculpture and to rally and encourage sculptors working at a professional level.
The opening reception at the new location of the gallery at 18 Gristmill Lane, in the Distillery District was well attended with artists and visitors talking about the sculptures and listening to music. The exhibitions involved all imaginable style from traditional representative to abstract. Part I was on display from June 29 to August 18, 2023.
Opening Reception on June 29, 2023 with visitors looking at Peter Wirün, Canada Mothers Three, steel, fiberglass, rust patina
Façade Signage with Camie Geary-Martin’s Alice, bronze
Façade left: (L-R) Yeon-Tak Chang, Vertical Sienna, Sienna marble, Peter Schoebridge, Icara, polished bronze and Tom Ashbourne, Energy & Light, bronze
Façade right: (L-R) Carl Schantz, Hexo series HGF 6g, laminated glazed ceramic, glass vitrolite, wood base, Renato Foti, Water Buffalo, skull, gold epoxy, glass and Laura Santini, Oranges_Arance, bronze
J Mac with her work, Segments, nails. rope, fiberglass
95 – and still going strong Part II
The second part of the exhibition displays sculptural work by 25 artists with various styles.
Opening Reception on August 26, 2023
This show includes works that catch your eye with their unique appearance. Art DiLella’s bust looks like a living human being, who just closed his eyes for a second. Everything is so real in it; the illusion is so perfect. However, the sculpture came purely from the imagination of the artist. He didn’t use a model. The only real thing is the human hair, each hair having been inserted by hand.
Art DiLella, Anon 2, silicone, human hair, cotton
Outstanding by Edward Falkenberg is really ‘outstanding’ because of its colours. He usually doesn’t paint his sculptures. In this mainly abstract composition, the yellow-green body of a figure with its red hand seems to reach out to a blue stick. There is movement in the wood structure itself with its curved and edgy form but the colours enrich them deeply. Maunder’s Intervention reminds me of a poppy’s spherical capsule fatally hurt by nails.
Edward Falkenberg, Outstanding, wood, pigment (left) and Jim Maunder, Intervention, wood, steel, nails (right)
Colours have the main role in Alfred Engerer’s piece. It is a glass sculpture, a new sculpting method in Canada. Just looking at it you would never know that it is glass as it is very textural. It is extremely powerful with the contrast of vivid blue and red.
Alfred Engerer, The Edge of Modern, glass, slate, oil paint
All of W. W. Hung’s sculptures are about movement. The young man atop his skateboard in the sculpture balances in the air, with the his body curving right and left, creating a perfect balance choreographed like a dance.
W.W. Hung, Frontside Rocker, bronze, limestone
Patrick Burmingham was one of the award winners in the Florence Biennial last year. His bronze sculpture AT-TI-TUDE, an abstract piece, also involves movement reminding us of someone reaching out to the sky.
Patrick Bermingham, AT-TI-TUDE, bronze, steel base
Piqtoukun is a prestigious artist who won the 2022 Governor General’s Award. His works are in the collections of the National Gallery in Ottawa and the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto. Shaman Teaching Apprentice is an excellent example of his method. Layers of culture and magic are encapsulated in the stone. The shaman facing right holding a circular object, the symbol of the universe, is looking into spheres that are not open to everyone. He is not fully human with two heads and two mouths; he is transformed into other realities. From his back a younger face looks at us. Is he the apprentice or a spirit called upon by the shaman? Hard to know, but we can’t miss the spirituality radiating from the sculpture.
David Ruben Piqtoukun, Shaman Teaching Apprentice, Brazilian soapstone, red pipestone, wood, metal
The portraits of Karen Stoskopf Harding and Marlene Kawalez are beautiful and ethereal. Kavalez painted her clay piece white giving it an angelic appearance. Stoskopf Harding uses strips of metal to create the woman’s face, involving air as an element, giving us the feeling of light shining through. The little bird on the top of the head invites the light with its song.
Karen Stoskopf Harding, The Revelation of The Light, bronze, BC cedar base (left) and Marlene Kawalez, Willow, raku clay, mirror (right)
Angela Verlaeckt Clark and Daniel Yu capture our attention with the dark beauty of their sculptures. While Verlaeckt Clark’s composition is smooth and curvy, Yu’s is edgy but both have movement in them.
Angela Verlaeckt Clark, Passageway, brucite, steel base (left) and Daniel Yu, Totem – Three Minds of Man, chlorite (right)
Congratulations to the Sculptors Society of Canada on their 95th anniversary and good luck to its members in their future careers.
Emese Krunak-Hajagos
Images are courtesy of Canadian Sculpture Centre
*Exhibition information: 95 – and still going strong, Part I June 29 to August 18, 2023, Part II August 26 – October 13, 2023, Canadian Sculpture Centre, 18 Gristmill Lane, in the Distillery District, Toronto. Gallery hours: Tue – Sat 11 am – 6 pm, Sun 12 – 5 pm.