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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 amazon.ca. https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0944110843/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i6 < All Artists Gord Peteran ABOUT SCULPTOR Artist Bio 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 amazon.ca. https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0944110843/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i6 Artist Website Installed Sculptures Passage Previous Sculpture Next Sculpture

Darlene Bolahood engages in many forms of visual communication through the arts. She completed her B.Sc. at the University of Toronto, focusing on organic chemistry and philosophy, then continued to complete her MFA at the University of Waterloo. She has worked in industry as an artist and designer in textiles, retail and residential design, fashion and costume. She has exhibited her own studio work in mixed media painting and sculpture in both public and private galleries. Curriculum design and development projects for Ontario Colleges have included creative studies in fine arts, fine crafts, design, and computer animation and graphics. She is full-time faculty at the Haliburton Campus of Fleming College, delivering programs in Studio Art Certificates as well as the Visual and Creative Arts Diploma. < All Artists Darlene Bolahood ABOUT SCULPTOR Artist Bio Darlene Bolahood engages in many forms of visual communication through the arts. She completed her B.Sc. at the University of Toronto, focusing on organic chemistry and philosophy, then continued to complete her MFA at the University of Waterloo. She has worked in industry as an artist and designer in textiles, retail and residential design, fashion and costume. She has exhibited her own studio work in mixed media painting and sculpture in both public and private galleries. Curriculum design and development projects for Ontario Colleges have included creative studies in fine arts, fine crafts, design, and computer animation and graphics. She is full-time faculty at the Haliburton Campus of Fleming College, delivering programs in Studio Art Certificates as well as the Visual and Creative Arts Diploma. More About Bolahood Installed Sculptures Redwing Frond Previous Sculpture Next Sculpture

Noelle Dupret Smith < Back Originally Published On: July 31, 2018 Originally Published By: Haliburton Sculpture Forest Lament of the Mythical Sculptures Written By: Noelle Dupret Smith I am Noelle Dupret Smith, this summer’s Sculpture Forest outreach coordinator. Over the next six weeks, I will be introducing and comparing sculptures of the Downtown Sculpture Project and the Sculpture Forest. This week, I am featuring the interesting duo of Julie Campagna’s Weeping Gargoyle, located near the Bank of Montreal on Highland Street, and George Pratt’s Pan, in the Sculpture Forest. Both are mythical figures, both with interesting and sad stories. The Weeping Gargoyle instantly brought to mind the eerie and alarming gargoyle scene in Ghostbusters. However, after doing some research, I learned that gargoyles are actually forces for good; placed on public buildings to ward off evil spirits—obviously misrepresented in Ghostbusters. Reason enough to weep! In the artist’s mind, the gargoyle is weeping for the state of the earth. Pan, god of the forest in ancient Greece, has a different lament. Pan, who appears as a goat/man, was enamoured with Syrinx, a wood nymph. She wasn’t interested! To avoid Pan, Syrinx had the water nymphs disguise her as a water reed. Pan searched for Syrinx, cutting down reeds in the hopes of finding her. Unsuccessful, he fashioned an instrument out of the reeds and tried to attract her with beautiful music. No luck. He is still alone playing his pipes; pining for Syrinx. Please wander down main street of Haliburton and see the Downtown Sculpture exhibition of 6 sculptures and visit Haliburton Sculpture Forest. There are free tours of the Sculpture Forest, Tuesdays 10:00–11:30am and Wednesdays 12:10–12:50pm. < Previous Article Next Article >

Mike Baker < Back Originally Published On: January 27, 2021 Originally Published By: Haliburton Echo Dysart provides dollars, inkind support to Haliburton Sculpture Forest Written By: Mike Baker When Barb Bolin joined the volunteer committee of the Haliburton Sculpture Forest more than two decades ago, she would never have imagined the site would eventually become one of Ontario’s top tourist destinations. Beginning in earnest as a small community initiative in 2000, the vision for the Haliburton Sculpture Forest was clear – to bring more attention to the arts and create an easily accessible and inviting way for people to experience nature in our community. Starting out with three sculptures, installed within the forest inside Glebe Park, the site now boasts 37 hand-crafted sculptures and six “one-of-a-kind” benches created by professional artists from across the world. “Our goal was to bring together art, nature and recreation,” Bolin told Dysart et al council back in December. The inspiration for the site lies across the Atlantic – Grizedale Forest, a large national park tucked deep within England’s Lake District. The site is home to more than 100 sculptures and attracts over 150,000 visitors per year. Over the past 20 years, the committee charged with the operation of the Haliburton Sculpture Forest has raised and invested north of $350,000 in an attempt to establish a similar phenomenon on this side of the pond. Those years of hard work appeared to pay off last year, as more people than ever before travelled up to Haliburton to check the forest out. “This past summer and fall, people were motivated to find unique outdoor and cultural activities they could experience safely. That resulted in an explosion of social media attention, with people posting their experiences from the Haliburton Sculpture Forest,” Bolin said. “This resulted in, over a four month period, double the number of visitors, from 9,000 in 2019 to 18,000 this past summer.” She added, “We estimate, for the whole year, we have had around 30,000 visitors.” While the site garnered the attention of people on social media, it was also highlighted on several websites and blogs. The forest ranked fourth out of 20 sculpture gardens profiled by ToDoCanada.ca, and was the only site in Haliburton County included in the recently published book Unforgettable Ontario: 100 Destinations , written by Canadian author Noel Hudson. The forest was also ranked, by TripAdviser, as the second best attraction in Haliburton, behind only the Haliburton Forest and Wild Life Reserve. Ontario’s Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries Lisa MacLeod noted the forest was “a perfect mix of nature and heritage” and that it “has an abundance of beauty and meaning” while visiting Haliburton this past summer. “One of the unique attractions of the sculpture forest is that it captures the interest of kids and adults alike, and has something for people from all walks of life and cultures,” Bolin said. “If you go for a walk in the summer, you can hear the forest being enjoyed in multiple languages. Because access is free, and pathways are fairly smooth and wide, it’s accessible both financially and physically.” The increased popularity, however, is starting to take a toll. Some areas of the forest are requiring regular maintenance, due to the number of people walking the trails, and it’s becoming difficult for the volunteer group to keep up. “ We have kept operational costs as low as possible, but we have realized this year the Haliburton Sculpture Forest has reached a tipping point. The dramatic increase in the number of visitors is causing wear and tear on pathways, and is impacting soil around the sculptures,” Bolin said. “The amount of litter has increased, and the number of guide maps needed has doubled.” She continued, “Moving forward, we need to make greater investment to maintain the site to ensure a good visitor experience.” Bolin said a new group, entitled Friends of the Haliburton Sculpture Forest, was being set up to promote the need for more community engagement and assistance in maintaining the park. Long-time committee members are also working alongside several other Glebe Park partners to establish what Bolin described as an endowment fund, which could over time turn into an annual source of funds to help offset the cost of running the forest. Those costs will increase to $32,000 in 2021, Bolin expects. She asked Dysart et al council if they would consider making an annual contribution of $12,500 to the sculpture forest operation. “Approximately 90 per cent of our funding is spent locally, and these funds go directly back into the local community,” Bolin said. “Over the past few years, Dysart has made significant investments into the downtown skate park, the arena, Head Lake Park, boat launches… We’re asking for a small annual investment from the municipality to maintain the forest as a cultural and tourism attraction.” Ward 4 Coun. John Smith wondered if the township could provide some form of in-kind work on an ongoing basis to lower the dollar amount requested. He suggested municipal staff could help with landscaping and general maintenance, something Jim Blake, another member of the sculpture forest committee, indicated would be helpful. Smith went on to suggest that the local sculpture forest committee should consider charging visitors both an entry fee and a parking fee, bringing up statistics from Grizedale Forest in England to drive home his point. “At Grizedale, they charge 8 pounds per day for people to park – that works out to around $15. They also sell annual memberships for around $75. There are some creative approaches that others use to draw more pocket change,” Smith stated. Bolin said the Haliburton Sculpture Forest has always been free to those interested in walking its trails, and that she would hate to ever see that change. At a budget meeting earlier this month, council decided to approve $5,000 in in-kind work for the sculpture forest, to be carried out by township staff, while also writing a cheque for $7,500 to cover other costs. There was a consensus that this would be a one-time funding for now, and that council would converse with the forest committee ahead of next year’s budget to see how they’re doing financially. Read the Original Article Here: https://haliburtonecho.ca/dysart-provides-dollars-inkind-support-to-haliburton-sculpture-forest/ < 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 >

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

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. < All Artists Brett Davis ABOUT SCULPTOR Artist Bio 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. Artist Website Installed Sculptures Guardians of the Forest Previous Sculpture Next Sculpture