Search Results

Angus Sullivan < Back Originally Published On: August 29, 2017 Originally Published By: Haliburton Echo To Cut or Not to Cut Written By: Angus Sullivan To Cut or Not to Cut was created by John Beachli in 2006. There is only one sculpture in the Haliburton Sculpture Forest carved out of local granite. Granite from the Pre-Cambrian shield (actually called gneiss) is notoriously difficult to work with. It is hard on carving tools, and it has fault lines that might result in a fractured sculpture if not handled with care. A sculptor has to be patient, creative, careful, and experienced to work with it. The stone for “To Cut or Not to Cut” was blasted from the ground under where Todd’s Independent stands now on County Rd 21. Some sculptors believe that forms and figures exist within the stone, and that it is their job to allow these shapes to appear. This concept can be seen in Beachli’s sculpture. The natural red colouration of some parts of the rock inspired the red flannel shirt of the lumberjack and the faces of the figures. If you walk around the sculpture, you can see sections that were left uncarved, almost as if the artist found the boy and his father within the stone. Haliburton County has a long history of men working in the forest, whether in the logging industry or cutting trees to clear land for farming and fire wood. This sculpture details the scene of a father and son working together. “To Cut or Not to Cut” is about the conversations that take place between them as they work. It can also be interpreted as the push and pull relationship we have with the forest. We need timber for building and heat, but we also need to conserve the forest and our environment to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink. How do you know when to cut and when not to cut? The Haliburton Sculpture Forest is located in Glebe Park on 297 College Drive. This unique collection of 36 sculptures by Canadian and international artists is open to the public, dawn to dusk, for your own discovery. Free guided tours occur on Tuesdays (10:00-11:30) and Wednesdays (12:10-12:50) in July and August. You can use the sculpture forest app (download PocketSights and search for Haliburton) or visit the website to learn more about the sculptures. www.haliburtonsculptureforest.ca < Previous Article Next Article >

Starting off his career with a BA in geography and biology at Wilfrid Laurier University, in 2006, Scott later went back to school for blacksmithing at Haliburton School of Art + Design. Since then Scott's public commissioned work can be found all around Ontario including Windsor, St Thomas, and Thunder Bay, as well as a work commissioned by a Medical Research Conference. You are now most likely to find Scott at his studio in Iona Station, ON. There he owns and operates Strong Arm Forge Inc. Check out his website to see more of his art and sculptural works. < All Artists Scott McKay ABOUT SCULPTOR Artist Bio Starting off his career with a BA in geography and biology at Wilfrid Laurier University, in 2006, Scott later went back to school for blacksmithing at Haliburton School of Art + Design. Since then Scott's public commissioned work can be found all around Ontario including Windsor, St Thomas, and Thunder Bay, as well as a work commissioned by a Medical Research Conference. You are now most likely to find Scott at his studio in Iona Station, ON. There he owns and operates Strong Arm Forge Inc. Check out his website to see more of his art and sculptural works. Artist Website Installed Sculptures Sun Bench Mother Earth Forest Screen Bench Fire Bench Previous Sculpture Next Sculpture

Tucked into the forest lie three Art Huts with unique art installations within each. Discover Grey's paintings. < All Events Art Hut Installation: Inner: Don’t Peak Tucked into the forest lie three Art Huts with unique art installations within each. Discover Grey's paintings. Wednesday, March 1, 2023 Friday, August 25, 2023 Address: Haliburton Sculpture Forest, College Drive, Haliburton, ON, Canada More About the Installation Inner: Don’t Peak is a series of eight paintings that depict the artist’s physical manifestations of trauma and mental illness. The characters depicted in each of the eight paintings represent a different archetype: Baba , a humanoid-bird creature that represents generational trauma; The Neighbor , a feminine presence that represents self-harm; Suffocating Hugger , a figure draped in layered fabrics that represent depression; Double Trouble , androgynous-looking twins that represent anxiety and paranoia; The Three-Headed Who , a faceless figure with three-headsthat represent derealisation, depersonalization and dissociation; Daydreamer , a fae that represents maladaptive daydreaming; Shackled Distract , a long-bodied creature that represents executive dysfunction; Cursed Ones , transparent humanoid figures that represent dysphoria and gender-dysphoria. Grey intends to expand this series into a divination deck, depicting a wider range of mental illnesses, disorders and unhealthy coping mechanisms. Photo Gallery: < Previous Next >

Work Decommissioned in 2017 Phillip Vander Weg is a professor of Art at Western Michigan University. He has held that post since 1989 and has been chair of the Department of Art for most of that time Vander Weg is also director of the WMU Sculpture Tour Program, which he founded in 1991. He received his MFA in Sculpture from The University of Michigan’s Horace Rackham School of Graduate Studies in 1968. He also has a BS in Design from The University of Michigan. As an artist, Vander Weg has been exhibited regularly since 1969. Venues include Frederick Meijer Sculpture Park and Gardens in Grand Rapids, Cleveland State College, The University of Tennessee, Clemson University, and The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem, N.C. Awards and honors include a Purchase Award at The 1996 Allegro Festival Exhibition, winner of The Vanderbilt University Sculpture Competition for Heard Library Interior in 1986, and a Purchase Award in the Art Of The Eighties competition at The Tennessee State Museum (Nashville) in 1982. Since 1972, he has had in excess of 25 private commissions (completed) of major sculptures for clients in the Midwest and Southeast, and his works are in the public and corporate collections of, among many others, The Butler Museum of Art, Tennessee State Museum, New York State University at Potsdam, and Gulf & Western Industries in New York City. He is an active member of The National Association of Schools of Art and Design, The College Art Association, FATE: Foundations in Art: Theory and Education, and The International Sculpture Conference. < All Artists Phillip Vander Weg ABOUT SCULPTOR Artist Bio Work Decommissioned in 2017 Phillip Vander Weg is a professor of Art at Western Michigan University. He has held that post since 1989 and has been chair of the Department of Art for most of that time Vander Weg is also director of the WMU Sculpture Tour Program, which he founded in 1991. He received his MFA in Sculpture from The University of Michigan’s Horace Rackham School of Graduate Studies in 1968. He also has a BS in Design from The University of Michigan. As an artist, Vander Weg has been exhibited regularly since 1969. Venues include Frederick Meijer Sculpture Park and Gardens in Grand Rapids, Cleveland State College, The University of Tennessee, Clemson University, and The Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem, N.C. Awards and honors include a Purchase Award at The 1996 Allegro Festival Exhibition, winner of The Vanderbilt University Sculpture Competition for Heard Library Interior in 1986, and a Purchase Award in the Art Of The Eighties competition at The Tennessee State Museum (Nashville) in 1982. Since 1972, he has had in excess of 25 private commissions (completed) of major sculptures for clients in the Midwest and Southeast, and his works are in the public and corporate collections of, among many others, The Butler Museum of Art, Tennessee State Museum, New York State University at Potsdam, and Gulf & Western Industries in New York City. He is an active member of The National Association of Schools of Art and Design, The College Art Association, FATE: Foundations in Art: Theory and Education, and The International Sculpture Conference. Installed Sculptures Previous Sculpture Next Sculpture

Youkie Stagg < Back Originally Published On: January 1, 2016 Originally Published By: Haliburton Echo Musical Inspiration Written By: Youkie Stagg “The musical instrument in this sculpture has a natural bond and connection to human life. Music entertains and educates us and speaks a universal language. The Dolomite lines represent the lyrics accompanying the music from the guitar. The lady is listening to the inspiring lyrics and music and it gives her happiness and peace. Music can do that.” – Simon Chidharara. Simon found the springstone used for “Musical Inspiration” in a mountain side quarry in Zimbabwe (where he lives) and was inspired to make this sculpture. He and his friends carried the rock down the mountain to his studio. The smooth sections of the piece were sanded with seven grades of sandpaper then the rock was heated to open up its pores and it was then polished with wax. The white lines were formed by cutting grooves into the stone and filling them with crushed dolomite. Chidharara is represented in Canada by ZimArt’s Rice Lake Gallery. The Sculpture Forest, located in Glebe Park, Haliburton, offers free guided tours each Tuesday from 10-11:30 am and a shorter “Curator Selection” tour on Wednesday from 12:10–12:50. Meet at the kiosk in the Fleming College parking lot. www.haliburtonsculptureforest.ca < Previous Article Next Article >

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. Email: don.frost@sympatico.ca < All Artists Don Frost ABOUT SCULPTOR Artist Bio 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. Email: don.frost@sympatico.ca Artist Website Installed Sculptures Depth Previous Sculpture Next Sculpture

Sayde Demers < Art Huts Location Art Hut 3 Directions Art Hut 3 is located at the Eastern edge of the Sculpture Forest, close to the water. To find Art Hut 3: Walk to 27. Together We Explore the Wild, Art Hut 3 is located behind this sculpture Installation Start: March 1, 2023 Installation End: August 31, 2023 Sayde Demers The Mystery Shack, 2023 Mixed media installation made of found objects, sculptural elements and vitrines The Mystery Shack is a captivating exploration of the intersection between art, nature, and the surreal. Reminiscent of an historic Cabinet of Curiosities—a curated collection of objects that represent moments in time, as well as the exotic interests of its collector—this installation challenges our perceptions of what is natural and what is real. The works showcased are designed to create a sense of intrigue and wonder—drawing the audience into a world that is at once familiar and yet, strangely foreign. By featuring animals with bizarre and fantastical characteristics, this installation aims to explore the boundaries of our imagination and challenge our understanding of the natural world. Can we think beyond our industrialized and digitized present to a future where all creatures can co-exist without having to be placed in a museum or zoo, in order to appreciate the wonders of our earthly paradise? About the Artist Sayde Demers Sayde Demers brings memories from childhood to life with her awesome imagination and playful creativity.Growing up in a concrete suburban jungle (Oakville, ON), she found herself yearning for nature and finding inspiration and comfort within the natural world. Through the use of different materials, a unique palette and out-of-the-box thinking, Demers is able to splatter her imagination onto anything she touches. Unable to conform to one medium, Sayde has developed her skills in painting, fibre art, ceramics, sculpture and assemblage, in order to present her mixed media works. Spontaneous and fun, with some darkness thrown in for good measure, her artworks deliver a creative vibe that’s reminiscent of the carefree attitudes most of us have experienced as children. Instagram: @sayde.fuse Sayde Demers is an Integrated Design Diploma student at Fleming College's Haliburton School of Art and Design. Previous Next

Noelle Dupret Smith < Back Originally Published On: August 7, 2018 Originally Published By: Haliburton Sculpture Forest Sculptures Redefined Written By: Noelle Dupret Smith Have you walked past the large, compelling sculpture in downtown Haliburton in front of Wind in the Willows Spa? That is “This Side Up #9 “Shall We Dance” by Michael Truelove. At first glance, this sculpture looks like a many-faceted hexagon. This piece piques my curiosity—demanding a closer look. In reality the sculpture is a deconstructed cube, however the artist has manipulated the flat pieces of steel so that the sculpture looks as if it is jumping towards main street. A black, steel sculpture in the Sculpture Forest, also requiring a deeper look, is “Terminus” by Marianne Reim. It stands mysteriously on a large boulder; set back from the path. Look closely and you can see hands covering a face; while a winged shape covers the head. I get a lot of interesting reactions to this sculpture from people on tours. For my group last week, it brought to mind “The Flying Nun” from the 1970’s sitcom. For me, a more sombre interpretation resonates. This sculpture was acquired in 2002, the beginning of the war in Afghanistan. Pictures of women in burkas were in the news. For some people, the sculpture evoked this image. Look closer still and you see a barbed-wire ring on a finger—does this allude to an unwanted marriage or losing a partner at war? The longer you think about it, the more poignant the story. That is the great part about sculptures, everyone sees them differently. Sometimes you just need to look a little deeper to find your own story. Please wander down main street of Haliburton and see the Downtown Sculpture exhibition and visit Haliburton Sculpture Forest. The Sculpture Forest offers free tours, Tuesdays 10:00–11:30am and Wednesdays 12:10–12:50pm. You can see the Sculpture Forest in motion tonight (August 7) as the contemporary dance company, Throwdown Collective, performs with local artists (5:00pm picnic, 6:00-7:30pm show). www.haliburtonsculptureforest/re-imagined < Previous Article Next Article >

Tizirai started sculpting in 1992 and was unwavering in his pursuit for excellency in his work until the day he died. Even in his last days when he was no longer feeling healthy, Tizirai still found strength to sculpt a few pieces as a way of taking his mind off his illness. During his lifetime, Tizirai’s work had an unmistakable trademark of contrasted handshakes. The Handshake sculptures were his expression of his need to see inter-racial unity, he shared Martin Luther’s dream of seeing a world were people are not judged by the colour of their skins but by the content of their character. Taurai Tigere-Tandi the Chairman of Chitungwiza Arts Centre described Tizirai Gumbere as a hardworking Artist who was focused on his work. *Adapted from Gumbere's obituary published on avacarts.com < All Artists Tizirai Gumbere ABOUT SCULPTOR Artist Bio Tizirai started sculpting in 1992 and was unwavering in his pursuit for excellency in his work until the day he died. Even in his last days when he was no longer feeling healthy, Tizirai still found strength to sculpt a few pieces as a way of taking his mind off his illness. During his lifetime, Tizirai’s work had an unmistakable trademark of contrasted handshakes. The Handshake sculptures were his expression of his need to see inter-racial unity, he shared Martin Luther’s dream of seeing a world were people are not judged by the colour of their skins but by the content of their character. Taurai Tigere-Tandi the Chairman of Chitungwiza Arts Centre described Tizirai Gumbere as a hardworking Artist who was focused on his work. *Adapted from Gumbere's obituary published on avacarts.com Tizirai Gumbere's Obituary Installed Sculptures Together We Achieve the Extraordinary Previous Sculpture Next Sculpture

Peter is a skilled designer, metal artist and wood worker. A graduate of SITAL, he has twice received the Betty Kantor Scholarship Award for students who display excellence in the program. Before studying furniture design, Peter received a degree in Communications from Wilfrid Laurier University. Born in Toronto, he has been able to widen his perspective by traveling and living abroad in Japan, Switzerland, and Denmark. Peter has also studied design in Denmark where his work was exhibited at the prestigious Denmark Design Skole. His work has been exhibited online, in print media, and at Fluid Living, Distillery District location. Peter is energetically involved in the Toronto craft and design community, most recently is his involvement with Designers Walk Home and Style Studio Tour where his work is displayed at Weavers Art. In the time of his young career, Peter has been developing working relationships with residential clients, interior designers, and architects. Email: peter@holtzundmetal.com < All Artists Peter Wehrspann ABOUT SCULPTOR Artist Bio Peter is a skilled designer, metal artist and wood worker. A graduate of SITAL, he has twice received the Betty Kantor Scholarship Award for students who display excellence in the program. Before studying furniture design, Peter received a degree in Communications from Wilfrid Laurier University. Born in Toronto, he has been able to widen his perspective by traveling and living abroad in Japan, Switzerland, and Denmark. Peter has also studied design in Denmark where his work was exhibited at the prestigious Denmark Design Skole. His work has been exhibited online, in print media, and at Fluid Living, Distillery District location. Peter is energetically involved in the Toronto craft and design community, most recently is his involvement with Designers Walk Home and Style Studio Tour where his work is displayed at Weavers Art. In the time of his young career, Peter has been developing working relationships with residential clients, interior designers, and architects. Email: peter@holtzundmetal.com Artist Website Installed Sculptures Current Previous Sculpture Next Sculpture

A dance event in three parts. < All Events Dance Rx³: Re-emergence, Re-engagement, & Re-connection A dance event in three parts. Tuesday, September 13, 2022 Saturday, October 22, 2022 Address: Haliburton Sculpture Forest, College Drive, Haliburton, ON, Canada About Dance RX3 A dance event in three parts: Re-emergence and Re-engagement in September 2021 and Re-connection in October 2022. This project was made possible via a collaboration between Dance Happens Here Haliburton (DH³), Throwdown Collective, and the Haliburton Sculpture Forest. From September 13-18 visitors had the chance to see dance artists Brian Solomon, Noriko Yamamoto, Phylicia Browne-Charles, Madeline Friel and Throwdown Collective (Mairéad Filgate, Brodie Stevenson and Irvin Chow) as they spent a week in solo creative dance residency in the Haliburton Sculpture Forest. These selected artists were invited to take an existing work or idea—perhaps halted by the pandemic—and to re-engage, re-configure, and adapt it to the outdoor environment, exploring it through a new lens. In Winter of 2022 (date TBD) the dancers and choreographers will get reconvene for a live event do discuss their work, sit in for a Q&A and possibly perform their work live (depending on pandemic restrictions). Toronto-based Throwdown Collective is an award-winning contemporary dance company that supports the collaborative creative pursuits of founders Zhenya Cerneacov, Mairéad Filgate and Brodie Stevenson. The Collective’s first three site-specific works, originally commissioned for Toronto's Dusk Dances Festival, went on to tour throughout Canada and beyond, including the 85th Anniversary Celebration of Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, MA and Fall for Dance North at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. Their first full-length evening of stage works, presented by DanceWorks (TO) received two Dora Mavor Moore Awards for Outstanding Choreography and a total of eight nominations. Throwdown Collective enjoys a long-standing relationship with Dance Happens Here Haliburton and the Haliburton community. They created two full-length works as artists-in-residence at the Sculpture Forest (2018, 2019), and a short film commissioned by DH3 during the COVID-19 lockdown. They are thrilled to be returning to Haliburton for another exciting project. Learn More About: The Dancers Throwdown Collective DH3 September 13-18, 2021 Re-emergence We asked the Throwdown Collective to invite four dancers/choreographers, Brian Solomon, Anishinaabe dance artist, Noriko Yamamoto, Japanese-Canadian mime/dance artist and two emerging dance artists Phylicia Browne-Charles and Madeline Friel to spend a week in solo creative dance residency in the Haliburton Sculpture Forest in September 2021. These selected artists have been invited to take an existing work or idea—perhaps halted by the pandemic—and to re-engage, re-configure, and adapt it to the outdoor environment, exploring it through a new lens. Coming a year and a half after most creative rehearsals and performances were halted, this creative time in Haliburton will offer artists an open week of personal reflection, re-emergence into creative life post-pandemic, and a gentle entry back into artistic social exchange. September 13-18, 2021 Re-engagement The dance artists will reside in Haliburton with seven days to think, create, and experiment, inspired by the beautiful forest surroundings, the changing colour of the leaves and the sculptures nestled along the trails. Community members and visitors are invited to wander through the Sculpture Forest and observe the artists in their process. The Sculpture Forest attracts a culturally diverse group of visitors of all ages from the GTA and throughout the region. It is also a favourite place to walk for local residents, within walking distance of three local schools and adjacent to the Haliburton School of Art + Design. A casual meet and greet for artists and community members will be organized at the end of the week, as well as informal events for participating artists to gather, socialize, and exchange ideas. The objective of the week is to offer artists a supportive and nurturing space and opportunity to re-ignite their creativity and spark artistic exchange after a tumultuous time. The focus is on process with no expectation of a final product. Throughout the week the process will be documented on film including short interviews with participating artists. October 22, 2022 Re-connection This film footage has been edited into a creative montage and will be screened at a culminating live event in Haliburton in Fall 2022. The participating artists are returning to Haliburton for the screening, to perform their work before a live audience and to participate in a artists talkback about their experience with re-emergence, re-engagement and re-connection! Watch the video here. Thank you to all our sponsors! This event is funded by the Goverment of Canada Photo Gallery: < Previous Next >

Sculpture Forest comes alive with performances, movement and music. < All Events Sculpture Forest Re-imagined 2018 Sculpture Forest comes alive with performances, movement and music. Monday, August 6, 2018 Tuesday, August 7, 2018 Address: Haliburton Sculpture Forest, College Drive, Haliburton, ON, Canada More About DH3 Sculpture Forest Re-imagined was a unique, walk-about experience featuring acclaimed contemporary dance company Throwdown Collective ; cellist Bethany Houghton; coronet player Hugh Taylor; storytelling, psychedelic, blues/rock trio Dark is our Danger; Heritage Ballet dancers; and more. Presented by DH3 (Dance Happens Here Haliburton) in collaboration with the Haliburton Sculpture Forest. DH3 is a part of the Haliburton County Community Co-operative “It’s a different way of experiencing the Sculpture Forest.” said Sculpture Forest curator and DH3 committee member, Jim Blake. “It is fun, thought provoking and eye-opening to see how these incredible performing artists respond to, interpret, animate and amplify the Sculpture Forest. Throwdown Collective are well known to Haliburton through their performances in Dusk Dances Haliburton over the years. This year they have returned to the community as artists in residence in the Sculpture Forest. We posed the question: “What would happen if the Sculpture Forest came alive with movement and music?” Throwdown Collective are working with local artists to explore that question and to co-create The Sculpture Forest Re-imagined. Photo Gallery: < Previous Next >