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ELIZABETH WYN WOOD has been on my mind over fifty years. Yes it has taken 50 years to get around to doing something informative about my Technical Sculpting Teacher.
I did not know in 1945 that in 2003 I would be gathering together everything there is about Elizabeth Wyn Wood that I could find in the National Gallery of Art in Ottawa, from the personal records that her daughter let me copy many years ago but would not let me use it. She was going to publish a book about "Mommy and daddy" Emanuel Hahn instructor for the Ontario College of Art., Toronto.
To tell you the truth when I went looking for information on Manny Hahn I got very little help from the library. I got less from the Metropolitan Toronto Public Library and nothing from the Public Archives in Ottawa.
All I could get was the public known works, which are scattered all over Ontario and elsewhere. In Niagara Falls there are the fountains done in stone (no signatures on them) There was an 'Owl' drinking fountain which no longer exists. A "Fountain of fish" (4) and a "Flying Geese" relief all carved by Louis Temporali.
The King Edward memorial that is in the same park was not done until the mid 1960's just prior to her death.
The War Memorial in Welland is a very impressive work full of tensions of figures she used to enhance her design. The work she did for Ryerson Polytechnical School are later works that are hard to photograph now that the trees and bushes have grown around and over the faces of the building.
There are two linear works on the McLean's Building at the corner of Dundas and University Avenue. (again no signature). The "Simcoe Memorial" near Niagara Falls I have not seen as a fine relief work.
I have seen the very fine portrait the E. Hahn did of Miss Wood in marble. It is in the collection of the National Gallery of Canada.
Miss Wood was at the College and Mannie was her teacher. They got married and shred the rest of their lives together. I was told that he married her because she was a better sculptor then him. I do not believe that story but Miss Foster was full of stories throughout her whole life.
I do not get involved in the personal life of my subjects so will only state what is a stretch of someone's imagination. I am representing both of them in my work.
It just takes so long to get an education, show your work and become famous if you can. My work is not to get fame for my work but to make all of my sculptors acceptable on the world stage. I am tired of having to make an excuse "I am a Canadian Artist". In this presentation I am using whatever photos I can to enhance the lives of our artists. I have no intention to infringe on copyright but to copy them right.
I am sure you must agree that there is nothing more frustrating to a student who in not allowed access to public information. Once a book is out it is the hands of the public. If that material is abused then I would be the first to stand up for copyright.
Even with all the boxes of photos the Quenifer Brown allowed me to copy and sort over a two year period plus the new exhibition catalogue many of her important works are not included and represent her full artistic production.
Again, it has taken me 40 years to get this far and I am not going to be stopped now. It is time that all of our fine artists are put Online and let the world judge them and their works. They stand in judgment on their own right.
If you are not aware I have mortgaged my house for $40,000.00 on top of the $150,000.00 I have spent over 40 years. I think I have the right to make a book of this nature to introduce you to our culture.
Every bookstore you go into has beautiful books on every artist from Europe, America and the Far East but nothing on our Sculptors. I know it has the "Too, too's and hard to introduce in the education system but her is the opportunity to see and use it once and for all. This in my last hurrah at age 72. Enjoy my old age.
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