Leo Sepa is a Canadian-Estonian visual artist and blacksmith who works in both recycled and new materials. Leo Sepa Leo’s foray into metal art began some thirty years ago. Though the urge to create with fire and metal remained strong throughout the years, Leo’s talents were relegated to weekends and holidays at his Haliburton cottage until he retired. In 1997, he and is wife Hilary fulfilled a longtime dream by establishing Iron Jive Studio in Moore Falls, Haliburton. Leo is a participant of The Haliburton County Studio Tour, where art lovers watch him demonstrate forging techniques and visit his home gallery. Many of Leo’s ideas are conceived and captured on film during outings of rural Ontario, especially Haliburton. He is continually developing and exploring new ideas, which are reflected, in his artwork. Leo’s paternal grandfather was a blacksmith in Estonia (in fact, the name “Sepa” is derived from the Estonian “Raud Sepp” which translates as iron smith). Like his grandfather, Leo uses traditional blacksmith techniques. But he also employs the use of an oxyacetylene torch, a Mig welder, a plasma cutter and various other modern tools. He works in both recycled and new materials where he sometimes uses natural patinas creating a wide variety of pieces. Though the elder Sepa was a traditional blacksmith, forging tools and farm implements, Leo figures a little of his grandfather’s craft rubbed off on him. Leo was born in 1947 in Sweden after his Estonian parents fled to the nearby country to escape Soviet repression after the USSR invaded the Baltic. He came to Canada when he was three. < Back to Artists

The Haliburton Sculpture Forest and Haliburton BIA are thrilled to host the summer Downtown Haliburton Sculpture Exhibition. Go Now Visit the gallery to see all of the sculptures and artists featured in the 2025 DHSE. 2025 DHSE The Downtown Haliburton Sculpture Exhibition The Downtown Haliburton Sculpture Exhibition is an outdoor exhibition that runs from June 18th through to October 25th, 2026. The sculptures were installed at sites along Highland St., Maple Ave. and York St. in the downtown core of Haliburton Village in Ontario, Canada. Where We Are Haliburton Village is located in the Haliburton Highlands, approximately 215 km northeast of Toronto and 285 km east of Ottawa. Directions to Downtown Haliburton can be found here. Self Guided Tour While we do not offer guided tours of the Downtown Haliburton Sculpture Exhibition, feel free to take a self-guided tour using our brochure found in the Haliburton Welcome Centre or the Caboose Bike Hub. Learn More About Self Guided Tours 8TH Summer Artists from All Across Ontario 7 Sculptures Purchasing the Sculptures Most of the sculptures on display are available for purchase. The public deals directly with the artists; they receive all proceeds from any sale. See our gallery for pricing and artist contact information. How We Got Started The Haliburton Village BIA brings together businesses in the downtown area of Haliburton, with the support of the municipality, to organize, finance and carry out physical improvements and promote economic development and community events. The Haliburton Sculpture Forest, located in Glebe Park , has been attracting visitors to Haliburton since 2001 and has grown to an outdoor collection of over 42 sculptures. Each year thousands of visitors visit the Sculpture Forest. Over the years the Board of Directors of the Sculpture Forest has talked about how we could do something similar in the downtown of Haliburton – connecting the village to the Sculpture Forest and providing an extraordinary experience for visitors to the area. In the spring of 2018, we became aware of the Elora Sculpture Project which successfully brings sculptures to their public spaces. After consultation with the organizers of that initiative, we decided that we could make this work in Haliburton Village. The executive and membership of Haliburton Village BIA were excited by the idea and joined forces with the Haliburton Sculpture Forest to create the Downtown Haliburton Sculpture Exhibition. Since 2018 we have put out an annual call to artists in Canada working in any media suitable for outdoor sculpture. A jury selects the works for the exhibition from the submissions we receive. Funding is provided by the Haliburton Village BIA, local businesses, organizations and art-loving residents. Most of the works in each exhibition are for sale. We let the public deal directly with the artists which eliminates fees; a benefit to you and the artists. Our guide includes pricing and contact information for each artist.

Richard Shanks is a Canadian artist blacksmith. He creates unique works of art, sculpture and furniture in a variety of media. Richard Shanks Born in England, Richard is the son of a master stone mason who creates industrial masterpieces and functional designs in brick and stone. His mother was an artisan-craftsperson who appreciated beauty in a variety of found objects and nature. Richard’s sister has a similar talent which is being carried on today. As an adult, he his artistic desire led him into the restoration of vintage cars and the building of custom vehicles. In 1989, he married and moved to Nova Scotia where he transformed a century-old sawmill into a unique space, The Mill Gallery Art, Crafts & Curiosities, which was to exhibit their own works and those of local artists. In 1996, they returned to Ontario where Richard took this creativity further, building a studio suitable for the production of various materials including blacksmithing. Richard became a certified Artist Blacksmith in 1999 at Sir Sandford Fleming College in Haliburton. He now creates unique works of art, sculpture and furniture in a variety of media such as steel, stone, wood and glass. They operate, Just Mad Innovative Design—a family business, inspired by their children Justice and Madison who have give them guidance through their own creativity. Anything is Possible! < Back to Artists

Gord Peteran Gord Peteran has been creating artworks for corporate offices, public institutions and private clients for the past 20 years. He is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art. Peteran has lectured and been published extensively across Canada and the U.S. and has participated in numerous exhibitions and conferences. As well as being a professor at the Ontario College of Art and Design University in Toronto, Gord has also taught at Sheridan College in Oakville, the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, the Haystack Mountain School in Maine, the Penland School in North Carolina and The California College of Arts. He has done many Artist Residencies across the continent. Gord has been the recipient of many Government Arts Council awards and grants throughout his career. In 2001 he won the Jean A. Chalmers National Arts Award and was also inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. In 2004 he received a Chalmers Arts Fellowship. In 2005 Gord created the iconic "Red Doors" of the main entrance to the Haliburton School of Art + Design. Between 2006 and 2009 a mid career retrospective of his artwork toured nine Art Museums across the US. This exhibition was organized by the Milwaukee Art Museum in conjunction with the Chipstone Foundation, and supported by the Windgate Charitable Foundation. It was curated by Dr. Glenn Adamson, Head of Graduate Studies, Research Department at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London England. Dr. Adamson writes, “Peteran has launched a boundary crossing career opening up the category of furniture to an unprecedented range of psychological and conceptual content. He uses found objects, assemblage techniques, metal casting, fine cabinetry and drawing to create artworks that challenge the established Art, Design and Craft terms of reference.” A catalogue titled “FURNITURE MEETS ITS MAKER” is available through a mazon.ca . < Back to Artists

Brett Davis is a Canadian sculptor working with ferrous and non-ferrous metals in welding, fabrication, chasing and fountain design. Brett Davis Website: ageofbronze.ca Brett Davis was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1957. He graduated with honors from Toronto’s Central Technical School Special Fine Art Program in 1981 where he majored in sculpture, and won The K.A.Griffith Award and The Peter Haworth Award for Meritorious Achievement, and is a member of The Sculptors Society of Canada. He works in all facets of ferrous and non-ferrous metals from welding, fabrication, chasing and fountain design. Brett has also studied ancient and historical patinas for more than 25 years, while practicing in the art of chemical patination, which has gained him a notable reputation as a Patina Specialist in Metal Conservation. With over 25 years of experience, he specializes in the design, manufacturing, installation and maintenance of custom and commissioned bronze works designed specifically for interior and exterior environments. He has worked with many prominent landscaping and architectural firms integrating bronze sculptures and fountains into their unique designs and has won many public art competitions in Ontario, Canada. Brett’s travels abroad have also earned him an international reputation as a bronze artist, participating in many invitational international exhibitions and symposiums, and has numerous private and public works in Asia, United Kingdom, USA and Canada. < Back to Artists

A one-of-a-kind dry stone bench created by Aaron Galbraith. Spirit of the Wild Aaron Galbraith Materials: Locally quarried granite Description: One of a kind dry stone bench made from locally quarried granite. Location: Haliburton Sculpture Forest; South Trail beside the stairs Installation Date: August, 2012 Number on Map: C Go to Gallery About the Bench: Carole Finn, local artist and community booster, donated the dry stone bench in memory of her late husband Don. Measuring 7 feet by 3 feet, the granite top of the bench weighs 1,400 pounds, with the many smaller rocks weighing in at 4,500 pounds. In the centre of the bench there is a mossy stone collected from the Finn's farm. 'Spirit of the Wild' took artist, Aaron Galbraith, 7 days to make. < Back to Sculptures

Spiral Ascent, a dry stone sculpture, was created by John Shaw-Rimmington and students of the Haliburton School of Art + Design. Spiral Ascent John Shaw-Rimmington and the students of the 2015 Dry Stone Structures Course Materials: Locally quarried granite Description: Dry stone cairn with spiralling grassy walkway. Constructed by students of the 2015 Dry Stone Structures Course, Haliburton School of The Arts. Installation Date: July, 2015 Number on Map: 26 Go to Gallery About the Sculpture: The Spiral Ascent is a dry stone cairn with a spiralling grassy walkway, made with locally quarried granite. It was designed by John Shaw-Rimmington and constructed by students of the 2015 Dry Stone Structures Course at Fleming College, Haliburton School of the Arts. < Back to Sculptures

Found objects and upcycling form "Flying Debris", a blue heron shaped sculpture by Leo Sepa. Flying Debris Leo Sepa Materials: Assemblage of mechanical hardware, tools and re-bar Description: Found metal objects formed into the shape a blue heron. Wing span: 2 metres. Installation Date: August, 2016 Number on Map: 28 Go to Gallery About the Work: Found objects are at the heart of this sculpture, aptly titled "Flying Debris", an assemblage of mechanical hardware, tools and re-bar, formed into the shape of one of the most distinctive local birds, the blue heron. Like many of Leo’s sculptures, the piece and the title exudes wit and whimsy. < Back to Sculptures

Don Frost Website: donfrostsculptor.com Email: don.frost@sympatico.ca Peterborough born Don Frost had his future path laid out for him by winning first prize in a city wide art exposition at age six in grade one. The following year at age seven, Don had a group showing at the Peterborough Public Library. Public school had its usual trials and tribulations and it was not until grade 10 that Don discovered that he was colour blind to all but the primary colours. At this point Don’s life took a right turn and sculpture was all that he focused on. Don teamed up with a friend in grade 11 who became his art agent and they enjoyed considerable success in the Peterborough area. After high school Don took some time off to do his art and apprentice as a mechanic for a year. In 1973-74 he attended Sheridan Art College followed by a decision to become a professional sculptor having just received a major commission for a large 15' tall sculpture for a new mall being built in Peterborough, Ontario. This was followed by the creation of the largest sculpture in Canada in 1983 by winning a competition for an indoor work for the Michael Starr Building in Oshawa, Ontario. Always seeking new outlets for art Don acquired an art agent in Ottawa which led to an introduction to a patron who kept Don busy creating more than 40 sculptures in a period of twenty years. Don’s work internationally was recently a commission for four large works for a garden in Club Medjulis in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Previously to this in an expansive design project by the late King Hussein for a 1.6 km wall of huge relief panels commemorating the history of Jordan, Don’s work on six of these panels was accepted by King Abdullah. Experiencing greater notoriety for the global uniqueness of his art, Don was presented with awards from Peterborough County and commemorated in the Walk of Fame. Presently Don has art representatives across the United States and Canada. < Back to Artists Contact

View and/or download a map of our sculpture collection. Map of the Sculpture Forest A Evolution B Current C Spirit of the Wild D Sun Bench E Forest Screen Bench F Fire Bench 1 Homesteaders 2 Pan 3 Dreaming Stones 4 Guardians of the Forest 5 Sound Vessel: Forest 6 Beaver 7 Visionary 8 Curled Figures 9 Redwing Frond 10 Moose Scraps 11 Terminus 12 A Walk in the Woods 13 Embracing Eos 14 Sleep of the Huntress 15 To Cut or Not to Cut 16 C to C 17 Lissome #5 18 Shadow Caster 19 Kennisis 20 Fire and Ice 21 Gelert 22 A Conspiracy of Ravens 23 Atmo-sphere 24 Unity Gate 25 Musical Inspiration 26 Spiral Ascent 27 Together We Explore the Wild 28 Flying Debris 29 Harmony 30 Voyage 31 Storied Moons 32 Wind Dervish 33 Mother Earth 34 Das Buch XXIII 35 Together We Achieve the Extraordinary 36 Matriarchy 37 I see a wish 38 Passage 39 Depth 40 Double Take View a PDF version of this map here.

Primitive, organic shape, reminiscent of a bird's skull Depth Artist: Don Frost Name of Sculpture: Depth Material: Fiberglass and composites finished with graphite and prismatic paint. Height: 1.5 metres Description: Primitive, organic shape, reminiscent of a bird's skull Installation Date: 2022 Number on Map: 39 Go to Gallery About the Work I had a lot of fun making this piece during the COVID-19 lockdowns. It was a real escape from the world and just evolved into this primitive, organic shape. I live beside a bike trail and this piece brought in many people off the path to see what I was working on. The mount is also unusual for me, going up on a diagonal which gives the piece some extra movement. The finish is graphite, top coated in a prismatic gold to magenta paint. The piece is made from fibreglass and composites and is designed to withstand weather extremely well. About the Artist Peterborough born Don Frost had his future path laid out for him by winning first prize in a city wide art exposition at age six in grade one. The following year at age seven, Don had a group showing at the Peterborough Public Library. Public school had its usual trials and tribulations and it was not until grade 10 that Don discovered that he was colour blind to all but the primary colours. At this point Don’s life took a right turn and sculpture was all that he focused on. Don teamed up with a friend in grade 11 who became his art agent and they enjoyed considerable success in the Peterborough area. After high school Don took some time off to do his art and apprentice as a mechanic for a year. In 1973-74 he attended Sheridan Art College followed by a decision to become a professional sculptor having just received a major commission for a large 15' tall sculpture for a new mall being built in Peterborough, Ontario. This was followed by the creation of the largest sculpture in Canada in 1983 by winning a competition for an indoor work for the Michael Starr Building in Oshawa, Ontario. Always seeking new outlets for art Don acquired an art agent in Ottawa which led to an introduction to a patron who kept Don busy creating more than 40 sculptures in a period of twenty years. Don’s work internationally was recently a commission for four large works for a garden in Club Medjulis in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Previously to this in an expansive design project by the late King Hussein for a 1.6 km wall of huge relief panels commemorating the history of Jordan, Don’s work on six of these panels was accepted by King Abdullah. Experiencing greater notoriety for the global uniqueness of his art, Don was presented with awards from Peterborough County and commemorated in the Walk of Fame. Presently Don has art representatives across the United States and Canada. < Back to Sculptures

John Beachli is a Canadian stone carver and skilled dry stone wall creator. John Beachli John Beachli moved to Haliburton over thirty years ago and started a construction company. John did a lot of work with stone and became skilled at dry stone wall creation and began to teach these skills at the Haliburton School of The Arts. John was inspired by the work of George Pratt, a renowned stone sculptor and instructor at the school. (Pratt’s sculpture “Pan” is part of the Haliburton Sculpture Forest collection) He began studying with George to learn the craft and art of stone carving and spent time over the years with George in his studio in Vancouver. John now dedicates most of his time to stone carving. In July 2006, John was artist-in-residence at the Haliburton Sculpture Forest – working on this sculpture near the entrance to the Sculpture Forest and the Haliburton School of The Arts and inviting the public to visit and watch the work in progress. John donated the completed sculpture to the Sculpture Forest. It was installed on its current site in August 2006 and officially inducted on October 21, 2006.Two of John’s dramatic sculptures can be seen at the entrance to the Haliburton Hospital. < Back to Artists