Guelph artist and outdoor sculptor takes on land project
August 1, 2012 by Chloe
Ontario painter and artist Don Russell loves working on outdoor paintings and scenes in his Guelph studio, but his latest project is taking on a new form- an outdoor stone sculpture in Rockwood, just east of Guelph near Eramosa River.
Conceived in his Guelph studio, it took Russell several drawings and 3D images to form the outline of the sculpture that now links spiral stones to workings of past ancients. Russell reflects on all of the labour involved in stone piling and endeavours to include the enormous amount of work in different phases of time into his contemporary display.
On the property, which was once a rolling farm turned wooded trails with stone ancient stone barriers and partitions, fans can come to see interlocking buffalo bones, root sculptures, and stone sculptures of crows and a spiralling stone wall of increasing height encircling a central sphere. The outdoor sculpturing is expected to be completed by summer’s end.
Guelph artist Gordon laird is working with Don Russell on realizing the concept, In particular the multi-media aspect of the exhibit, introducing new elements and carvings that fit the exhibit, such as quills, caves and barbed wire.
Russell’s unique work, once completed will be sure to draw crowds. Local print companies can become involved in promoting the work and narrating the phases of outdoor sculpturing through banner printing at the exhibit scene. Printed advertisements for the Rockwood outdoor display can also be displayed at the Rennan Issaac Contemporary Art in Guelph, where Russell will have a painting exhibition in October.
