CHON Interview with Shane Wilson about Sculpture Unveilings
November 18, 2009 Filed in: Unveilings
LINK: Listen to this CHON FM Radio interview on YouTube
Text:
Peter Novak, CHON FM Host - Canadian Roots
It's exactly sixteen minutes before one o'clock on Canadian Roots, from CHON FM.
This evening in Whitehorse, at the Yukon Arts Centre, there will be an unveiling of some new works of sculpture. Joining me now is the artist, Shane Wilson.
Good afternoon, Shane
Shane Wilson, Sculptor
Good afternoon, Peter.
Peter Novak, CHON FM Host - Canadian Roots
Shane, you're unveiling two pieces in a few hours from now. Tell me first about the one called, "Candle Ice, 1999".
Shane Wilson, Sculptor
Sure. There are two pieces, the first one, "Candle Ice", has been around, obviously, for a while. It's been shown in various places, most recently: it has been at the Arts Centre for the past year and before that in the Westmark (Hotel) in the dining room. It's a moose antler sculpture, carved in an abstract, triangular pattern. It's donated to the Yukon Arts Centre Gallery Permanent Collection by Miranda Atwood.
Peter Novak, CHON FM Host - Canadian Roots
And the second piece is called "Self Portrait, 2009". Describe that ...
Shane Wilson, Sculptor
The "Self Portrait" sculpture is just recently completed. It too is an abstract sculpture but it's comprised of a set of musk ox horns that have been carved, as well as a bronze wolf skull. The wolf skull is suspended above the horns, which are suspended above a jade boulder. It's carved in my characteristic pattern of angles and swirls. What I was trying to get at was to depict in an abstract way, the life of an artist, and I'll explain more about that tonight.
Peter Novak, CHON FM Host - Canadian Roots
What inspired that piece?
Shane Wilson, Sculptor
Well, that piece, actually, was originally commissioned by Earl Bennett. He's a retired business man and former ivory carver. He came to the Yukon many years ago to carve ivory in Dawson. He commissioned me, he said he wanted something done out of musk ox horn. He said, do whatever you want. So he and I are both donating this piece together to the Arts Centre.
I thought, the shape of the horns themselves, if you look at them, they're swirly and there's a huge break in the middle between the two horns. They start off with a kind of a black tip, which I imagined as birth and they broaden out into this huge, massive front, which represents getting close to middle age. Then there's a break which could be a mid-life crisis, or the time of life where you reassess your life and make changes. And of course, the second half of life tapers down to black on the far end and that, of course, would be death.
That's what came to mind when I was looking at the musk ox horns and what I have tried to represent in an abstract way.
Peter Novak, CHON FM Host - Canadian Roots
Now on Saturday, you're also going to travel to Haines Junction. What will you be doing?
Shane Wilson, Sculptor
There is another sculpture unveiling in Haines Junction on Saturday and I'll have that sculpture available tonight at the Arts Centre. It's large: two moose antlers carved on a bronze moose skull. It too is carved in an abstract way.
On Saturday, Haines Junction is celebrating their 25th anniversary as an incorporated municipality. As part of the celebrations, there's a barn dance, a dinner in the community, and the unveiling of this sculpture.
This sculpture is actually the fifteenth piece in a series of bronze sculptures that have been donated to the Haines Junction Permanent Art Collection. They are displayed in a beautiful display cabinet underneath the spiral staircase in the St. Elias Convention Centre.
Peter Novak, CHON FM Host - Canadian Roots
Well Shane, enjoy this evening and also the time in Haines Junction.
Shane Wilson, Sculptor
Well thank you very much and I appreciate your interest, Peter.
Peter Novak, CHON FM Host - Canadian Roots
That's artist Shane Wilson.
Shane Wilson, Sculptor
Good afternoon, Peter.
Peter Novak, CHON FM Host - Canadian Roots
Shane, you're unveiling two pieces in a few hours from now. Tell me first about the one called, "Candle Ice, 1999".
Shane Wilson, Sculptor
Sure. There are two pieces, the first one, "Candle Ice", has been around, obviously, for a while. It's been shown in various places, most recently: it has been at the Arts Centre for the past year and before that in the Westmark (Hotel) in the dining room. It's a moose antler sculpture, carved in an abstract, triangular pattern. It's donated to the Yukon Arts Centre Gallery Permanent Collection by Miranda Atwood.
Peter Novak, CHON FM Host - Canadian Roots
And the second piece is called "Self Portrait, 2009". Describe that ...
Shane Wilson, Sculptor
The "Self Portrait" sculpture is just recently completed. It too is an abstract sculpture but it's comprised of a set of musk ox horns that have been carved, as well as a bronze wolf skull. The wolf skull is suspended above the horns, which are suspended above a jade boulder. It's carved in my characteristic pattern of angles and swirls. What I was trying to get at was to depict in an abstract way, the life of an artist, and I'll explain more about that tonight.
Peter Novak, CHON FM Host - Canadian Roots
What inspired that piece?
Shane Wilson, Sculptor
Well, that piece, actually, was originally commissioned by Earl Bennett. He's a retired business man and former ivory carver. He came to the Yukon many years ago to carve ivory in Dawson. He commissioned me, he said he wanted something done out of musk ox horn. He said, do whatever you want. So he and I are both donating this piece together to the Arts Centre.
I thought, the shape of the horns themselves, if you look at them, they're swirly and there's a huge break in the middle between the two horns. They start off with a kind of a black tip, which I imagined as birth and they broaden out into this huge, massive front, which represents getting close to middle age. Then there's a break which could be a mid-life crisis, or the time of life where you reassess your life and make changes. And of course, the second half of life tapers down to black on the far end and that, of course, would be death.
That's what came to mind when I was looking at the musk ox horns and what I have tried to represent in an abstract way.
Peter Novak, CHON FM Host - Canadian Roots
Now on Saturday, you're also going to travel to Haines Junction. What will you be doing?
Shane Wilson, Sculptor
There is another sculpture unveiling in Haines Junction on Saturday and I'll have that sculpture available tonight at the Arts Centre. It's large: two moose antlers carved on a bronze moose skull. It too is carved in an abstract way.
On Saturday, Haines Junction is celebrating their 25th anniversary as an incorporated municipality. As part of the celebrations, there's a barn dance, a dinner in the community, and the unveiling of this sculpture.
This sculpture is actually the fifteenth piece in a series of bronze sculptures that have been donated to the Haines Junction Permanent Art Collection. They are displayed in a beautiful display cabinet underneath the spiral staircase in the St. Elias Convention Centre.
Peter Novak, CHON FM Host - Canadian Roots
Well Shane, enjoy this evening and also the time in Haines Junction.
Shane Wilson, Sculptor
Well thank you very much and I appreciate your interest, Peter.
Peter Novak, CHON FM Host - Canadian Roots
That's artist Shane Wilson.
