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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 >

An extraordinary performing arts experience. < All Events Sculpture Forest Re-imagined 2019 An extraordinary performing arts experience. Tuesday, July 30, 2019 Wednesday, July 31, 2019 Address: Haliburton Sculpture Forest, College Drive, Haliburton, ON, Canada More About DH3 Join us for an extraordinary performing arts experience. Featuring: Acclaimed contemporary dance company: Throwdown Collective Cellist/Violinist: Bethany Houghton Blues/Rock Trio: Dark is our Danger And more. Be touched by magic at one of four shows when the sculptures come alive. Tuesday July 30th and Wednesday July 31st. 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Haliburton Sculpture Forest in Glebe Park, Haliburton. Arrive at College Drive or Museum Rd. Event starts in Glebe Park field. Wear comfortable shoes. This is a walk about, pay what you can event. A unique experience guaranteed. The Sculpture Forest is in motion! Space is limited. You must preregister online. Bring a copy of your registration to the show. No dogs allowed. Thank you to our sponsors: Photo Gallery: < Previous Next >

Youkie Stagg < Back Originally Published On: January 1, 2016 Originally Published By: Haliburton Echo Fire and Ice: A Really Big Shoe Written By: Youkie Stagg Local artist Charles O’Neil is well known for his wire sculptures of animal and human figures. It was not until shoe designer, Stuart Weitzman approached O’Neil at The Buyers Market of American Craft in Philadelphia and asked him to create a shoe sculpture for his corporate art collection that O’Neil branched into non-figurative forms. When Barb Bolin, principal of Fleming College’s Haliburton campus, retired after 35 years, her friends and co-workers created a fund to honour her with a sculpture of her choice. She asked O’Neil if he would create larger version of a shoe for the Sculpture Forest. Since O’Neil already had created a wire sculpture (Embracing Eos) for the Sculpture Forest, Bolin knew that he would be able to adapt his shoe design for the outdoors. The piece is made of stainless steel wire, steel rods, red glass beads from the Czech Republic, and clear, faceted glass beads from China. The Sculpture Forest, 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 kiosk in the Fleming College parking lot. www.haliburtonsculptureforest.ca < Previous Article Next Article >

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. < All Artists William Lishman ABOUT SCULPTOR Artist Bio 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. Article About Lishman Installed Sculptures Kennisis: Horse and Rider Previous Sculpture Next Sculpture

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! < All Artists Richard Shanks ABOUT SCULPTOR Artist Bio 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! Link Unavailable Installed Sculptures Visionary: A Tribute to Sir Sandford Fleming Previous Sculpture Next Sculpture

Charles O'Neil is a full-time artist living and working in the Haliburton Highlands. With a background in classical life drawing and painting, Charles earned many awards for his painting in juried competitions during the 1980's. By the 1990's Charles became interested in three dimensional sculptures and moved into the use of metals. With some artist blacksmithing techniques Charles developed a method of creating sculptures of wire commonly found at most building supply companies. Although subject matter of his sculptures varies widely, the human form has always been his main interest. Relieving the arts should not be taken too seriously; Charles strives to include a touch of humour in his work. With a long association with the Haliburton School of the Arts, and Sir Sandford Fleming College, Charles earned a Visual and Creative Arts diploma and an Artist Blacksmith Certificate. He became a faculty member in 1997, teaching both teens and adults wire sculpture, drawing, and painting. Charles is also an active member of the Haliburton Guild of Fine Arts, the Ontario Crafts Council, and the Craft Association of British Columbia. Charles O'Neil is presently showing his work in many galleries across Canada. His work can be found in galleries in Ottawa, Haliburton, Port Carling, Bracebridge, Toronto, and Vancouver. Acceptance of his work is international and is held in many private and corporate collections in New York, Southfield Michigan, London, England, Paris, France, Brisbane, Australia, and throughout Canada. < All Artists Charles O'Neil ABOUT SCULPTOR Artist Bio Charles O'Neil is a full-time artist living and working in the Haliburton Highlands. With a background in classical life drawing and painting, Charles earned many awards for his painting in juried competitions during the 1980's. By the 1990's Charles became interested in three dimensional sculptures and moved into the use of metals. With some artist blacksmithing techniques Charles developed a method of creating sculptures of wire commonly found at most building supply companies. Although subject matter of his sculptures varies widely, the human form has always been his main interest. Relieving the arts should not be taken too seriously; Charles strives to include a touch of humour in his work. With a long association with the Haliburton School of the Arts, and Sir Sandford Fleming College, Charles earned a Visual and Creative Arts diploma and an Artist Blacksmith Certificate. He became a faculty member in 1997, teaching both teens and adults wire sculpture, drawing, and painting. Charles is also an active member of the Haliburton Guild of Fine Arts, the Ontario Crafts Council, and the Craft Association of British Columbia. Charles O'Neil is presently showing his work in many galleries across Canada. His work can be found in galleries in Ottawa, Haliburton, Port Carling, Bracebridge, Toronto, and Vancouver. Acceptance of his work is international and is held in many private and corporate collections in New York, Southfield Michigan, London, England, Paris, France, Brisbane, Australia, and throughout Canada. More About O'Neil Installed Sculptures Fire and Ice: A Really Big Shoe Embracing Eos Previous Sculpture Next Sculpture

Doug Stephens has been carving stone since taking a course in Haliburton in 1998. Years before he had worked in the set department for film and television and then went on to study sculpture in Halifax at the Nova Scotia School of Fine Art, but had not settled on a medium that had any real meaning for him. That changed when he studied in Haliburton with George Pratt, who then invited him to spend some months in Vancouver apprenticing at his studio. Later that year, Doug opened his own studio in Muskoka and has had his work shown in galleries in Bala, Gravenhurst, Rosseau and Haliburton. Every summer since then he has taught at the Haliburton School of The Arts. In May of 2001 he moved his studio to Belleville and began working as a full-time sculptor for the Campbell Monument Company, carving sculptures for the local and North American market. < All Artists Doug Stephens ABOUT SCULPTOR Artist Bio Doug Stephens has been carving stone since taking a course in Haliburton in 1998. Years before he had worked in the set department for film and television and then went on to study sculpture in Halifax at the Nova Scotia School of Fine Art, but had not settled on a medium that had any real meaning for him. That changed when he studied in Haliburton with George Pratt, who then invited him to spend some months in Vancouver apprenticing at his studio. Later that year, Doug opened his own studio in Muskoka and has had his work shown in galleries in Bala, Gravenhurst, Rosseau and Haliburton. Every summer since then he has taught at the Haliburton School of The Arts. In May of 2001 he moved his studio to Belleville and began working as a full-time sculptor for the Campbell Monument Company, carving sculptures for the local and North American market. Link Unavailable Installed Sculptures Sleep of the Huntress Previous Sculpture Next Sculpture

Ian LaBlance is from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1990 and joined the US Navy. In the Navy, he served 22 years as an Electronics Technician (ET) and retirement from the Naval Reserve in 2015. Some of the units he served in include USS Ponce LPD-15, MIUWU 201 (Toledo, OH), 203 (Bronx, NY in Crete, Greece) and 214 (Buffalo, NY), Navy Mobilization Processing Site, Gulfport, MS. And Expeditionary Maintenance Det. G, Great Lakes, IL. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art Education with from Western Michigan University in 2001 and received a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture in 2004. He also received an Associate in Applied Science in Digital Media form the College of Lake County in 2013. Ian has always been a very creative person and has worked in many educational and creative positions. He has worked as a Stained Glass Workshop assistant for Willet Hauser Architectural Glass in Philadelphia, PA. and as a Studio Technician/Part Time Instructor at Fleming College’s Haliburton School of the Arts + Design, in Haliburton Ontario. In 2008, he moved to Chicago and worked as a Metal Fabricator for SVI Themed Construction Solutions, Inc. in Morton Grove, IL working on projects for the Shred Aquarium, the Phoenix Zoo’s “Little People” Discovery Farm and American Girl Store Chicago. From 2013 to 2015, he worked as a Craftsman/CNC Operator in Potbelly Restaurants Warehouse designing and building décor to Potbelly’s new and renovated restaurants. In 2015 he started working as a Building Manager Assistant on Great Lakes Naval Base, IL. and in October of 2018, Ian excepted the Exhibit Specialist position for the National Museum of the American Sailor also on Great Lakes Naval Base. As Exhibit Specialist, he will be designing and fabricating the museum’s new exhibits, designing advertising and promotional materials for the museum and assisting in the museum’s building restoration. < All Artists Ian LaBlance ABOUT SCULPTOR Artist Bio Ian LaBlance is from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1990 and joined the US Navy. In the Navy, he served 22 years as an Electronics Technician (ET) and retirement from the Naval Reserve in 2015. Some of the units he served in include USS Ponce LPD-15, MIUWU 201 (Toledo, OH), 203 (Bronx, NY in Crete, Greece) and 214 (Buffalo, NY), Navy Mobilization Processing Site, Gulfport, MS. And Expeditionary Maintenance Det. G, Great Lakes, IL. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art Education with from Western Michigan University in 2001 and received a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture in 2004. He also received an Associate in Applied Science in Digital Media form the College of Lake County in 2013. Ian has always been a very creative person and has worked in many educational and creative positions. He has worked as a Stained Glass Workshop assistant for Willet Hauser Architectural Glass in Philadelphia, PA. and as a Studio Technician/Part Time Instructor at Fleming College’s Haliburton School of the Arts + Design, in Haliburton Ontario. In 2008, he moved to Chicago and worked as a Metal Fabricator for SVI Themed Construction Solutions, Inc. in Morton Grove, IL working on projects for the Shred Aquarium, the Phoenix Zoo’s “Little People” Discovery Farm and American Girl Store Chicago. From 2013 to 2015, he worked as a Craftsman/CNC Operator in Potbelly Restaurants Warehouse designing and building décor to Potbelly’s new and renovated restaurants. In 2015 he started working as a Building Manager Assistant on Great Lakes Naval Base, IL. and in October of 2018, Ian excepted the Exhibit Specialist position for the National Museum of the American Sailor also on Great Lakes Naval Base. As Exhibit Specialist, he will be designing and fabricating the museum’s new exhibits, designing advertising and promotional materials for the museum and assisting in the museum’s building restoration. Link Unavailable Installed Sculptures Shadow Caster Previous Sculpture Next Sculpture

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. < All Artists Leo Sepa ABOUT SCULPTOR Artist Bio 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. Work for Sale Installed Sculptures Moose Scraps Flying Debris Previous Sculpture Next Sculpture