Lakefield artist’s sculpture being displayed in Illinois
LAKEFIELD -- Lakefield artist Don Frost has been chosen to display his art at the 2016 Sculpture Walk Peoria in Illinois for the next year.
Frost’s sculpture, Awaken, was chosen to be displayed along warehouse district in Peoria, Ill. until June 2017. Frost’s work was one of 16 sculptures to be chosen from 114 submissions from all over the U.S., Canada and two other countries. Frost was the only artist chosen from outside the United States.
The Sculpture Walk Peoria was first created by ArtsPartners of Central Illinois with support from the city of Peoria and private local businesses as a way to enhance the appreciation of art in the Peoria area, particularly the public art spaces in the warehouse district.
Frost’s piece, Awaken, is described as a freeform playful structure that represents a sense of life, drama and movement through different shapes and twists. The white sculpture is made of fiberglass, carbon fiber and urethane and it stands seven feet tall.
The piece has already been noticed and admired in Peoria. It was bought for $7,500 on the first day of the exhibit and will be displayed outside a home in Peoria when the sculpture walk is finished.
“It was almost a little embarrassing. Within a half hour my piece had sold but no one else’s had. But, it also makes me proud of the work I did,” Frost said.
Frost has been recognized internationally by many art lovers. Locally, you can see his Figures Dancing artwork outside the Peterborough Square and also the Resurrection Cross at the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board. He was inducted into Peterborough’s Pathway of Fame in 2007.
His sculpture Equinox has been on display at the Michael Starr Building in Oshawa since 1983.
His career choice was made when he was six years old and Frost had won first place in an art contest. He had figured that is what he was meant to do and he wouldn’t have it any other way, he said. Since then, Frost has devoted his time and energy into creating sculptures of many shapes and materials.
“I don’t have a particular vision when I start a new piece. I let my hands do the work for me and it all comes together as I’m working,” he said.
It was an honour to be chosen for the walk to begin with, but finding out how many submissions there were and that he was the only non-American artist being featured was an even more exciting surprise, he said.
Frost was given a vehicle by Trans Canada Motors to make the 12-hour trip to Peoria where he was invited for an all-expenses-paid, two-day visit to see his sculpture get put on display, he said.
“This is such a great experience to be a part of. Hopefully they will notify me for next year’s (exhibit) and if I have something to submit I hope to be chosen again.”