Blake Ward

Fragments

These deconstructed sculptures are each named for a landmine. They convey the enduring quality of man over his violent history.

The artwork was created to raise awareness of the tribulations facing local societies in post conflict countries as well as to assist in funding recognized charitable organizations to address the problems posed by explosive remnants of war.

Biography

Blake Ward was born in Yellowknife in the North West Territories in Canada, then raised and educated in Edmonton, Alberta where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Alberta in 1979.

In 1985 Blake moved to Paris to study under Cyril Heck with whom he learned traditional techniques of modeling figurative sculpture. When the opportunity arose for Blake to move closer to both his foundry and marble quarry, he opened his current studio in Monte Carlo in 1991.

Blake began his series of “de-sculpted” figures called “Fragments”, followed by his “Rethink” collection, after completing his teaching fellowship at the University of Hanoi in 2003Blake’s early work represents anatomically correct details in the clay sculptures of his live models, the first step in a “lost wax method” of production where the final rendition was either cast in bronze, or sculpted in marble.

It was in Vietnam that Blake shaped his vision of the devastating, long-term effects that landmines have on people all over the world. The result was an infusion of his activism into this series of sculptures.

His latest series, The Spirits, have crossed over into the abstract. Blake creates provocative partial figures (Angels and Phantoms) that represent the expanding consciousness of our inner selves in relation to our outer changing world.

Blake’s work has been exhibited in France, Italy, Germany, England, Singapore, India, Hong Kong, the United States and Canada.

Mission

The Saint John Arts Centre advances the culture and economy of greater SaintJohn, by providing critical infrastructure for the growth and development of the arts. By incubating and developing talent, the Arts Centre strengthens our community by fostering connections and collaboration, locally and beyond.

Saint John Arts Centre

20 Peel Plaza,
Saint John, NB
E2L 3G6

(506) 633-4870

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Monday & Sunday      Closed