Wildlife Art Journal - Spring 2010
Shane Wilson: Honouring The Power of Wild Life
Canadian Artist Makes A Contemporary Statement With 'Skullpture' Written By Todd Wilkinson
Shane Wilson’s art does not conform to a known vernacular, neither within sculpture, nor carving, nor the contemporary language of found objects and mixed materials.
Shane Wilson
However he is classified, Wilson’s creations stir up something deep within us—a mystery that cannot be explained easily in words. It could be the palmate shape of a moose antler that fans the inner flame of an archetypal memory, or the tusk of an Ice Age woolly mammoth, or the ivory gleam of a near-mythological narwhal inscribed with symbolism that reads like an ancient petroglyph.
Seeing them on the wall or under protective case, it is our sublime delight—and the artist’s challenge issued to us—to try and decode the hidden messages.
Art and nature form a breathtaking confluence in an extraordinary, evocative portfolio “For me, the message is all about who we are as people today,” Wilson says. “We live in a world of intriguing duality.”
Whether we dwell in a city or remote bush community; whether commuting to work in a skyscraper or making our living off the land; whether sojourning for subsistence in the wilderness or escaping into backyard woodlots, there is something ineffable about the headgear of animals that he reinterprets.
"This art of Neolithic and contemporary tribal peoples, to me, ranks with any art of world history. Its inventiveness, rhythm and abstract design is as high in quality as early 20th century modernist art."
—Robert Bateman
Under Wilson’s command, antler and ivory not only fill a room with ambiance and character; they flood an even larger space—the 21st century imagination—with a sense of adventure, compelling us to ponder our primitive connections to a distant past and our contemporary world.
Celtic Confusion, 1998 (carved moose antler)
Like a large landscape painting on the wall of a museum or the substantive heft exuding from a mass of bronze sculpture, Wilson’s work has a magnetic effect. Regardless of its size, it can bestow even a great hall with a feeling of majesty.
For years, before making his home near the Pacific Ocean on Vancouver Island, he remained largely off the radar screen of collectors because the solace-loving artist resided in the isolated interior of the Yukon.
Wilson is making a name for himself and it is well worth our time to take notice. His transcendent blending of classical taxidermy with the fine art traditions of carving and foundry work are attracting attention from collectors and museums across the continent. “When I think of carving, I think of the great European traditions of stone carving, and the Celtic tradition of carving in antler, wood and stone,” he says.
The eminent Canadian nature artist Robert Bateman, who dwells on Salt Spring Island, near Vancouver, observes, “Wilson's work is a powerful evocation of this heritage but he goes much further in innovation and creativity. Rather than decorating a utilitarian object he produces stand alone objects of art that always seem fresh and surprising. Fresh and surprising are words that seldom apply to the vast majority of art turned out these days."
'Gaia, 2009' Unveiled in Haines Junction
Text:
Mike Crawshay, Haines Junction Art Acquisition Committee
I don't know if everybody is here but we are six people: Julie Bauer, Patti Moore, Bridget Gatsby, Wolf Reidl, Eric Stinson and myself. It's one of the most fun committees I've ever been on because we just get to pic what we like. It really is fun. Lots of committees are all sorts of hard work but we give all the hard work to Darlene Sillery - she does all that stuff for us, and we basically get to pic what we like and we hope you like it too.
Say when! (Unveiling ... Applause)
Mike Crawshay and Wolf Riedl unveil 'Gaia' (photo by Steve Osborne)
Come on out Shane. On behalf of the Art Acquisition Committee and the Community of Haines Junction, thank you! (Applause)
Would you like to say something about the work?
'Gaia' receives a warm welcome upon its unveiling in Haines Junction (photo by Steve Osborne)
Shane Wilson, Sculptor
It's an abstract piece, as you can see, with carved moose antlers and the skull is made out of bronze and the base is bronze as well. The antlers just attach onto the skull.
Before I go any further, though, I just want to thank the Art Acquisition Committee and Council for having the foresight to support the Arts.
Shane Wilson, Sculptor, explains some of the meaning of 'Gaia' during his artist's talk (photo by Steve Osborne)
It says so much about the community and it says so much about the community to the world, as well, that people here think art is important. I think that will bode well for the future of your community. People will want to be part of this community because of its interest in art and culture. Read More...
'Skullpture Series', 2007 by Shane Wilson - Preliminary Unveiling
A preliminary unveiling took place on Canada Day, July 1, 2008. Shane flew to the Yukon for the occasion, courtesy of the Municipality of Haines Junction. The Westmark Whitehorse provided accommodation while he was in Whitehorse.
Claire Cherepak takes a closer look at 'Human 2', carved bronze by Shane Wilson
Shane Wilson speaking about his recently created 'Skullpture Series', donated in full to the Municipality of Haines Junction to be displayed at the St. Elias Convention Centre, unveiled on Canada Day, 2008
Residents of Haines Junction take a look at 'Skullpture Series', on display at the St. Elias Convention Centre, July 1, 2008
(bronze carving, carved bronze sculpture)
'Skullpture Series' - Unveiling in Permanent Home
"The unveiling of the carved bronze Skullpture Series in Haines Junction, took place during a concert by Fred Eaglesmith at intermission. The concert had 106 people in attendance, some of whom were present for the unveiling of the carved bronze sculpture and almost all dropped by during the intermission and following the concert to look at the sculpture.
The chair of the Art Acquisition Selection Committee, Councillor Mike Crawshay, spoke prior to unveiling the carved bronze sculpture. He explained the role of the Committee and talked about the four art acquisitions to date and the donation of the bronze Skullpture Series to the Village of Haines Junction. He also explained the process that resulted in the bronze Skullpture Series display cabinets being built.
The bronze sculpture was covered with tablecloths draped from the stair railings. When these were lifted following Mike's talk, there were collective oohs and aahs all around!
The carved bronze Skullpture Series was very well received. The sculptures look stunning in their new cabinets!"
(bronze skullpture carving, bronze skull sculpture)
LINKS - Skullpture Series Information Sheets on Display:
SkullptureSeries2007
SkullptureSeries-WIP
SkullptureSeries-Bio