Welcome to
Canada's largest outdoor contemporary art exhibit Confederation Park.
This park sits on what was once an industrial site that occupied both
sides of the Gananoque River.
When the Jones Shovel Company ceased operation in the 1960's, the Rotary Club
and the Chamber of Commerce developed a park which was dedicated on July 1,
1967. Over time, the Rotary Club added walks, lighting, ponds
and a beautiful fountain in the centre of the river.
During the 1990's members of the Rotary Club approached the Art Bank in Ottawa,
and in due course,
a number of sculptures were leased from the Art Bank.
In addition, the Town of Gananoque has also acquired four pieces of sculpture
which are currently on display.
"O NATURE"
Tony Stapells
Toronto
This work comes from Arelius Antonius.
The base begins with a short, thick plant stalk.
Growing outwards and upwards is a bowl of multi-layered shapes.
This movement is interrupted halfway by a horizontal leaf holding seeds and nuts.
More foliage
Some of it folding back on itself encloses seed pods and casings.
Bursting out at the top is a mythical flower centered by pistils and stamens with pollen ready to fly.
A tribute to nature.
It is said that rubbing the large horizontal leaf will bring one the blessing of nature.
Sculpture in bronze.
Anthony Stapells, 1966 -
Lives in Kitchener Ontario.
The title for this work, "O Nature", comes from a quote by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, written in 167 AD:
"Everything harmonizes with me, which is harmonious to thee, O Universe. Nothing for me is too early nor too late, which is in due time for thee. Everything is fruit to me which thy seasons bring, O Nature: from thee are all things, in thee are all things, to thee all things return. The poet says, Dear city of Cecrops; and wilt not thou say, Dear city of Zeus?"
Our forefathers first task in settling Ontario was to clear the land of trees. All of the tree was used. The trunk became homes, barns, furniture and tools, and bits left over were used as firewood.
The remaining upturned roots formed boundary lines or fences. Today, few of these fences remain.
" HERITAGE - ROOT FENCE " depicts one of these upturned roots. It is my tribute to the boundless energy of our courageous founding fathers.
Sculpture in bronze.
Anthony Stapells, 1966 - Lives in KitchenerOntario.
" STRUTIN "
1984
Normand Dutrisac
1953 -
" Montange Sculpture "
Sculpture by Walter Redinger
Wallacetown Ontario
For over 40 years Walter Redinger has been known for his large controversial fiberglass sculptures. Mr. Redinger has exhibited internationally with exhibits in New York, Italy and France. Mr. Redinger's work was chosen to represent Canada at the 1972 Venice Biennale, currently his work is being exhibited in New York City at the Mitchell Algus Art Gallery.
One of Canada's senior sculptures, this sculpture is reminiscent of the shoals of the 1000 Islands.
The sculptures of Walter Redinger have been applauded and derided.
One of six children of a tobacco farmer, Walter Redinger has spent all but a few years of his life within miles of where he was born in Wallacetown, in South Western Ontario. Walter spent a good deal of time exploring the rocky shores of Lake Erie, helping out on the tobacco farm and drawing with his friend and sculptor, Ed Zelenak.
At 17, he spent a year studying commercial art at Beal Technical College in London, Ontario. With no formal training in sculpture under his belt, he began to make sculpture in the family farm's tobacco drying huts.
He was taken up by the prestigious Isaacs Gallery in Toronto and would have his first one man show in 1963. The late sixties and early seventies would see Walter rise to national and international prominence, culminating in his selection as one of two artists to represent Canada at the Venice Biennale in 1972. His studio at the time would resemble a busy factory - to keep up with his prodigious production of the period, he often needed as many as six assistants.
His sculptural forms then, as now, are primal, highly personal and unrestrainedly visceral.
Catapulted to the forefront of the Canadian art scene at a very young age, Walter's later career would see many ups and downs. A mid-life artistic crisis in the 1980's and government cutbacks in funding to the arts in the 90's would contribute to tremendous financial hardships. Redinger would continue to work in fiberglass, usually in heroic quantities and on a monumental scale - a path as artistically bold as it is financially perilous.
Tom Henderson is aretired sculpture professor of Mount Allison University in New Brunswick.
"BIG X"
1977
Douglas Bentham
1947 -
Douglas Bentham's sculpture is represented in many major public collections in Canada and in private collections throughout North America and Europe. He has received several honours and awards over the years, notably membership in the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1976 and the Lynch-Staunton Award from the Canada Council in 1981.
Douglas Wayne Bentham, sculptor (born at Rosetown, Saskatchewan 1947). Bentham studied fine art at the University of Saskatchewan, graduating with a BFA in 1969 and returning to complete an MFA in 1989. He attended the EMMA LAKE ARTISTS WORKSHOPS, the Triangle workshop (Pine Plains, NY) and the Hardingham Sculpture Workshop (Hardingham, England), assisting the British sculptor Sir Anthony Caro at Emma Lake in 1977.
One of Canada's most prominent sculptors, Bentham's work can be found in public and private collections in Canada and the United States. He has completed a number of public commissions in Canada including work for the National Science Library in Ottawa, for the Government of Canada Building in Calgary, and for several locations in Saskatoon. An inventive sculptor in the constructivist tradition, Bentham tends to work in series, usually in welded steel or bronze, often incorporating elements from large works into smaller table sculptures and vice versa. His style has developed considerably over the past 30 years; he remains a productive, prolific and inventive artist.
Painted red steel geometric forms. In 1995, Alan Barkley was appointed president of the Ontario College of Art & Design.
"Cascade III"
1977
Andrew Dutkewych
White painted steel geometric forms.
Andrew Dutkewych
Born in Vienna, Austria (BFA Philadelphia College of Art 1966, Post Graduate Diploma, Slade School of Art 1968, London, England).
Andrew Dutkewych creates sculptures, sometimes small, sometimes monumental, which reflect the highs and lows of the rough fragility of our existence. His beings are often placed too high or too low; they never seem to be in the right place at the right time. In some ways his work mirrors the vital dilemma or absurdity of life so ably described by such writers as Pirendello, Kundera or James Joyce. In all Dutkewych’s work presents us with a sense of fatality, which is so eloquent that, in the end, it becomes surprisingly joyful.
Andrew Dutkewych is currently the graduate program director at Concordia University in Montreal, and teaches sculpture.
"My interests are focused on certain aspects of sculpture history, material history and process. In this respect, I often use traditionally invested materials such as bronze and stone. The works are sometimes small, sometimes monumental, usually reflecting the highs and lows of the rough fragility of our existence, in an attempt to create a reciprocal relationship between material and corporeal being. The beings that I create, are often placed too high or too low, somehow they seem to never be in the right place at the right time, conveying a feeling of discomfort or a troubling sensation of vertigo."
From 1955 to 1968 Louis Archambault received numerous awards, these awards included the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada's medal of honour in 1958, the Centennial Medal in 1967 and the Order of Canada awarded in 1968.
Mr. Achambault's work can be found in Canadian pavilions, at the Brussels (1958) and Montréal (1967) international expositions, and also commissioned works for Place des Arts, Montréal, the Ottawa and Toronto airports and the Ottawa City Hall.
One of the greatest Canadian sculptors of his generation.
Louis Archambault, sculptor (born at Montréal 4 Apr 1915).
He studied at the École des beaux-arts in Montréal, receiving the prestigious Prix du Ministre in 1939. He was awarded the first prize for sculpture in the Concours artistiques du Québec in 1948. That same year he joined with others, including Alfred Pellan, to sign the manifesto Prisme d'Yeux. From 1955 to 1968 he received numerous awards, including the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada's medal of honour (1958), the Centennial Medal (1967) and the Order of Canada (1968).
For over 40 years Walter Redinger has been known for his large controversial fibreglass sculptures. Mr. Redinger has exhibited internationally with exhibits in New York, Italy and France. Mr. Redinger's work was chosen to represent Canada at the 1972 Venice Biennale, currently his work is being exhibited in New York City at the Mitchell Algus Art Gallery.
A film documentary, “Beyond Survival”, has been made of sculptor Walter Redinger. This documentary chronicles his thirty year career, from his early fame in the late 1960's to obscurity during a turbulent 1980's period, before the film catches up with him on the eve of his return to the art scene in the mid-90's.
Dedicated to the trees of Gananoque, past, present, future.
By the Gananoque Forestree Advisory Committee.
Peter M. Murray R.P.F., Chairman Crafted by Mike Tennant of Tennants Welding, Gananoque October 28, 2004
Iron leaf set in a pond.
The Gananoque Forestree Advisory Committee (GFAC) was established in the spring of 1996 to advise and educate the residents about the conditions and importance of trees in Gananoque. The volunteers of the GFAC have expanded the original concept to include hands on planting, tree nursery operation, tree maintenance and long term planning.
Like many old, small town communities in Ontario, Gananoque has a large number of over-mature maple trees (and some other species) planted prior to the 20th century. It was the concern about the loss of these valuable citizens, and the need for their replacement that fuelled the initiative to increase an awareness in the town of the “urban forest”.
