Just Beneath the Surface New Sculpture by Blake Ward, Toronto, Oct 9
Yellowknife-born, Edmonton-educated Blake Ward presents his Toronto gallery debut with a new collection of provocative figures that expand the consciousness of our inner realities.
- (1888PressRelease) August 21, 2014 - Sculptor Blake Ward makes his Toronto gallery debut Thursday, October 9, 2014, 6 - 9 pm, at the Articsók Gallery, 1697 St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto, ON, M6N 1J2. The exhibition runs through Saturday, November 8. Gallery hours are Wednesday - Saturday, 12 PM - 6 PM. Call 416 651 5020 or info ( @ ) articsokgallery dot com dot The artist will attend the opening on October 9th dot
Blake's contemporary work builds on the techniques of classical figurative sculpture used since antiquity. His latest series Just Beneath the Surface crosses into abstract and ethereal realms where he creates provocative figures that expand the consciousness of our inner realities. The external form, with its vulnerable and textured surface, contains the figurative aspect. The internal framework depicts, in aesthetic terms who we are within. The outer, layered surface represents our physical self, while the inner structure symbolizes our individual, organic and evolving being.
Yellowknife-born Blake received his Bachelor of Fine Arts with honours from the University of Alberta in 1979, found his interest lay in classical figurative sculpture, and moved to Paris, where he studied under Cyril Heck until 1989. When the opportunity arose in 1990 to be closer to the historic city of Florence and the foundry of his choice, Foundry Venturi Arte in Bologna, he moved to his current studio in Monte Carlo.
Invited to teach at the University of Hanoi in 2003, Blake's work evolved into a bold socio-political voice calling out to our humanitarian dreams of justice, truth and equality. When he learned first-hand, about the tragic effects of landmines, he began combining art with activism. This led to his "Fragments" collection of 'intentional art' and to a subsequent series of work, "Rethink," where Blake challenged viewers to question their beliefs about the law, equality, faith, and religion.
Blake's work has shown in Monaco, England, Germany, Italy, Singapore, Hong Kong, Delhi, the United States, and Canada.
"For me, the grace and symmetry of traditional figures ignite the alchemy of sensuality and emotion leading to the unrestrained force of a contemporary form of expressionism". - Blake Ward.
Articsók Gallery is a 740 sq ft commercial gallery dedicated to advancing the benefits of creating and experiencing art, exhibiting painting, sculpture and photography by contemporary Canadian and International artists. Founders and managers are Csilla Csiki (B.A. Fine Art History, University of Toronto), and Peter Alexander Por (B. Arch., University of Illinois and Honours B.F.A. Specializing in Sculpture, York University.
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