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William (Bill) Lishman was a world-renowned inventor, author, and artist in many media. William Lishman William (Bill) Lishman M.S.M., L,L,D. (hon) ( b. 1939 - 2017) Lishman was a world-renowned inventor and artist in many media. His works include award-winning documentary films, three books, and numerous works of public art, including a 26 meter tall sculpture for EXPO 86 in Vancouver, twenty figures for the Bridgepoint hospital in Toronto, and Canada’s largest salmon sculpture in Campbellton NB. His 1996 best selling autobiography inspired the Columbia Pictures Oscar nominated film, Fly Away Home, as well as the Jaques Perrin feature film The Winged Migration. Bill was a pioneer in ultra-light aviation and became the first human to lead birds in the air with an aircraft. Building on that he initiated the use of ultra-light aircraft in establishing new migration routes for precocial birds. In 2015 he published his third book, The Oak Ridges Moraine From Above and also completed a 13-meter tall stainless steel iceberg sculpture for the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa. In his later years, Bill's passion built on his pioneering work in domed earth integrated architecture and is a concept for a new form of communal living for extreme climates particularly to fit the need of the Indigenous peoples of Canada’s north. Bill received numerous awards including the Odyssey of the Mind's prestigious Creativity Award, The Canadian Meritorious Service Medal, the US National Wildlife Federation Conservation award, and two honorary doctorates. < Back to Artists

Become a Friend of the Haliburton Sculpture Forest. Get Involved! The Haliburton Sculpture Forest was created in 2001 by an inspired group of volunteers who had a vision of creating a unique destination in Haliburton that combines art, nature, recreation and education. With over 30 sculptures and over 10,000 visitors each year, the ongoing success of the Haliburton Sculpture Forest is made possible through the efforts of volunteers and generosity of donors. You can contribute to the Sculpture Forest in a number of ways – by contributing time and talent or by making a donation. Become a Friend of the Haliburton Sculpture Forest Be a Friend of the Sculpture Forest – help with our annual clean-up, landscaping, maintenance, distributing brochures Serve on the Board of Directors Get involved in fundraising Interested? Email us or give us a call: Call our Curator – Jim Blake 705-457-5278

Brett Davis All Sculptures Guardians of the Forest Number on Map 04 Artist Brett Davis Material Bronze Installation Date June 1, 2004 Learn About the Artist In the past, man has played a crucial role in the depletion of our forests and has endangered many animals, bird species and forest vegetation by clear cutting, pollution, and neglect. Over the years, numerous conservation programs have been designed and implemented to protect the animals, birds, and forest vegetation, through education, laws, and public awareness. We must play an active and optimistic role to help replenish and stabilize our environment. The “Guardians” are a combination of man and nature. Together they form an alliance that reminds us to harmonize with nature to help keep our eco system balanced and our environment clean and free from any intervention that may harm or destroy the future of our forests. More Photos Previous Next

George Pratt All Sculptures Together We Explore the Wild Number on Map 27 Artist George Pratt Material Salt and Pepper Granite Installation Date August 1, 2016 Learn About the Artist The sculpture “Together We Explore the Wild” was commissioned in appreciation of the life of Shawn Hagerman, family man, outdoorsman, canoeist, camper, fisherman, hunter, photographer, hiker, meditator, poet, and health and fitness enthusiast. He found peace and joy in exploring the wilderness alongside his family and friends. More Photos Previous Next

Leo Sepa All Sculptures Moose Scraps Number on Map 10 Artist Leo Sepa Material Assemblage of retired vintage farm equipment and other hardware Installation Date June 1, 2001 Learn About the Artist Found objects are at the heart of this sculpture, aptly titled "Moose Scraps", an assemblage of retired vintage farm equipment and other hardware, formed into the shape of one of Canada's largest mammals, the moose. Like many of Leo’s sculptures, the 2.5 meter piece exudes wit and charm. More Photos Previous Next

Darlene Bolahood All Sculptures Redwing Frond Number on Map 09 Artist Darlene Bolahood Material Steel, Acrylic Panels Installation Date August 1, 2003 Learn About the Artist The sculpture’s axis, from base to tip, is perfectly aligned: the compass needle pointing to the true north. The sun’s rays, at this latitude, find the lenses of the coloured panels, casting shadows that change with the skies. The streaks of pigment opaque on the transparent surfaces along with the overlapping edges of the panels create kaleidoscopic forms within these shapes. The form is explosive red. Like transparent marble veined with golds, silvers and black, the leaf/feather/louver-paged panels reflect the flight of birds, growth of the forests and books of the art of learning. Catching the wind, changing frequencies, perhaps it will even posses a voice where it stands. Imagine the red of this leaf against the white of the snow, the red of this leaf opposing the brilliance of the new spring greens, softening into the aging dust of summer, and then disappearing into the famous autumn colours of the Haliburton Highlands. The leaf for growth, the feather: mark of freedom and flight, the pages of the book: the freedom in self-knowledge… which marks the only absolute measure of success in the uncovering and unleashing of an artist’s soul. I pay tribute to the land and the rock, sun, sky and wind and the school standing within that space. More Photos Previous Next

Andrew Rothfischer All Sculptures Lissome 5 Number on Map 17 Artist Andrew Rothfischer Material Polished Concrete, Fused Glass Installation Date June 1, 2014 Learn About the Artist Lissome is intended to show the curvilinear form that is often repeated everywhere. People see it in the grass blowing in the wind, the line of the spine in the human body and even in the highways that form the overpasses arcing overhead. Using cement to make the curved shape and Kiln formed glass or recycled float glass to accent said curves Andy has created the Lissome series. The light filters differently through the glass chosen to give a different look throughout the day as well as throughout the seasons. More Photos Previous Next

William Lishman All Sculptures Kennisis: Horse and Rider Number on Map 19 Artist William Lishman Material Milled Steel Installation Date October 1, 2008 Learn About the Artist The theme of Expo 86 in Vancouver was transportation and communications. There were three plazas that focused on various forms of transportation; land, sea and air. My concept won the commission for the centerpiece sculpture for the Land Transportation plaza. My thoughts (inspired by Terry Fox and Steve Fonyo) were that muscle power has been the mainstay of our transportation in human history. Legs have carried humankind around the planet since our forbearers crawled from the sea, and who knows when we first started riding various animals. The horse more than any other animal has carried us for many millennia. The overall piece was comprised of many elements depicting the devolution of the wheel. It started at the bottom out of a traffic jam as if wheeled vehicles had been caught in some tornado-like blender, and were torn apart in an upward spiral of varying colours around a central cone to a height of 86 feet. The vehicle parts re-congealed into muscle powered transportation. A celebration of legs! Aside from the wheeled vehicles at the bottom, it was comprised of 55 figures which gradually diminished in size as they spiraled skyward giving the piece a forced perspective and making it appear much higher than its 86 feet. The horse sculpture was in the second step down in scale, just a bit smaller than life size. It represented the history of equestrian transportation depicting a North American aboriginal rider as one with the horse in mind and muscle. The segments that are welded together to make the sculpture are off cuts from a metal stamping plant that made parts for General Motors in Oshawa. The overall piece was entitled Transcending the Traffic. The sculpture was purchased by Janis Parker and donated to Fleming College which has provided the sculpture on permanent loan to the Haliburton Sculpture Forest. Janis chose the name Kennisis, the name of a racehorse owned by Gary Vasey and Don Finn, to honour the Vasey and Finn families. More Photos Previous Next

Peter Wehrspann All Sculptures Current Number on Map B Artist Peter Wehrspann Material Oak, Steel Installation Date August 1, 2005 Learn About the Artist Vision for the Bench: I designed this bench with two major considerations in mind. The sinuous form is for a pleasing shape embodying flow and movement. While the human-manipulated materials that make up the bench contrast with the surrounding natural environment, the bench's repetition of line and sense of movement invokes a congruent relationship with its environment. The concave face of the bench allows for interaction between visitors to the Sculpture Forest. Passers-by taking a rest will be nudged to engage in a quiet chat or conversation. Though, respecting the needs for personal space the bench's undulating form also allows for a convex seating arrangement to provoke focus elsewhere. A low backrest makes it easy to rest one's elbows to sit for long periods to just observe, communicate, or a combination of both. Artist Statement: I take great pride in creating unique objects that successfully fulfill requirements of form and function. This project became more intriguing for two reasons. First the bench is an exterior object that posed challenges in the design and construction and aesthetics. I don't believe it is a casual duty when attempting to gracefully impose human-made objects into nature. Second, the project was one that, unlike other sculpture, involves interaction with people on an ongoing basis. It is my belief that 'good objects' can positively evoke emotion and interaction, personally and interpersonally. Artists before me have inspired these perspectives that now define my work. Natural artist Andy Goldsworthy from England, landscape architect Martha Schwartz from the U.S.A. and Christopher Alexander, author of "A Patterned Language", all promote an awareness of the integral relationship between us, the Earth, and the things we, as humans, make. More Photos ! Previous Next

Kevin Lockau All Sculptures Dreaming Stones Number on Map 03 Artist Kevin Lockau Material Granite boulders Installation Date June 1, 2001 Learn About the Artist Kevin chose granite boulders as the medium for his installation, “Dreaming Stones”, - a 2.75 meter "mystical totem", made from six boulders collected from around the region. At the base of the totem is a sleeping wolf or coyote. Also included are a pattern of concentric circles representing time and growth rings, leaves representing regeneration, life and economy, contour lines representing contour plowing, and the faces of pioneers. Perched above all - the Owl, symbol of wisdom, flight and change. Over time a patina of lichen has conveyed a feeling of age and has accentuated the patterns. Visitors are welcome to feel the textural patterns and handle the same stone as the settlers did. More Photos Previous Next

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