News Detail
Statue Unveiling
C.W. Lonsdale sculpture preview!
Nearly three years in the making, a larger-than-life sculpture of Shawnigan Lake School’s founder and first Headmaster, C.W. Lonsdale, is now complete. Internationally-renowned sculptor Mardie Rees, famous for her life-like figurative sculptures, hosted a public unveiling of her creation at the Real Carriage Door Company Studio in Gig Harbor, WA on January 17th and 19th. Guests at the event included interested locals, Shawnigan alumni, the School’s current Headmaster, David Robertson, Director of External Relations and Advancement, Rudy Massimo, and Director of the Shawnigan Centennial, Phil Jarvis.
“As I look at this magnificent statue - all 8’ of it, I feel more than ever that our Founder was something of a giant in the world of education and I remain very proud to be upholding his legacy.” - David Robertson, Headmaster.
Shawnigan Lake School celebrates its Centennial in 2016. As part of the celebrations a statue of the Founder was commissioned and funded by a group of alumni, led by Stuart Milbrad ’48, Dr. John Burr ’49 and Francois Elmaleh ’53, all graduates during Lonsdale’s years at Shawnigan (1916-1952).
It wasn't hard to convince the School that a statue of the Founder was a natural tribute to the man whose vision and determination plays a huge role in Shawnigan's near-century of success. Once David Robertson had approved the marquette, Ms. Rees went to work on the full-size piece. She used live models in period clothing to create the look she wanted, and had a life-plus-one-third size version made in foam, which she covered with clay. Shawnigan alumnus, Jay Connolly’s Rough Diamond: An Oral History of Shawnigan Lake School served as inspiration, Rees said. “When I read the book, I discovered that Lonsdale was a visionary character and I started getting really excited about the piece. He was really a kind of father figure to the students in his school. That’s the way the alums felt about him. He was their mentor when they were teenagers. He was so important in their lives.”
Rees rented a period-specific vest and put it on a mannequin “so I could adjust the fabric right,” and spent many days in her studio with a friend’s likeable, and very patient, German Shepherd, as she worked on the canine portion of the sculpture. Her husband served as the model for Lonsdale’s hands.
“As soon as I have a live model in my studio everything sort of comes together,” Rees said. “It goes so much faster. You can see how the suit reacts to the posture of the body, now the neck is pressed against the collar, how to get the shoes to feel ‘worn.’ I need the live model to make the sculpture ‘breathe.’”
Mardie Rees is recognized as one of the best young figurative sculptors in America. In 2010, she received the prestigious First Honour Award from the Portrait Society of America for her bronze bust of a woman, which she called ‘Truth Beloved.”
The sculpture will now travel to Two Ravens foundry in Tacoma, WA where it will be cast in bronze early this summer. Installation at Shawnigan Lake School is scheduled for Founder's Day this October.
– Sarah Doyle
Back
“As I look at this magnificent statue - all 8’ of it, I feel more than ever that our Founder was something of a giant in the world of education and I remain very proud to be upholding his legacy.” - David Robertson, Headmaster.
Shawnigan Lake School celebrates its Centennial in 2016. As part of the celebrations a statue of the Founder was commissioned and funded by a group of alumni, led by Stuart Milbrad ’48, Dr. John Burr ’49 and Francois Elmaleh ’53, all graduates during Lonsdale’s years at Shawnigan (1916-1952).
It wasn't hard to convince the School that a statue of the Founder was a natural tribute to the man whose vision and determination plays a huge role in Shawnigan's near-century of success. Once David Robertson had approved the marquette, Ms. Rees went to work on the full-size piece. She used live models in period clothing to create the look she wanted, and had a life-plus-one-third size version made in foam, which she covered with clay. Shawnigan alumnus, Jay Connolly’s Rough Diamond: An Oral History of Shawnigan Lake School served as inspiration, Rees said. “When I read the book, I discovered that Lonsdale was a visionary character and I started getting really excited about the piece. He was really a kind of father figure to the students in his school. That’s the way the alums felt about him. He was their mentor when they were teenagers. He was so important in their lives.”
Rees rented a period-specific vest and put it on a mannequin “so I could adjust the fabric right,” and spent many days in her studio with a friend’s likeable, and very patient, German Shepherd, as she worked on the canine portion of the sculpture. Her husband served as the model for Lonsdale’s hands.
“As soon as I have a live model in my studio everything sort of comes together,” Rees said. “It goes so much faster. You can see how the suit reacts to the posture of the body, now the neck is pressed against the collar, how to get the shoes to feel ‘worn.’ I need the live model to make the sculpture ‘breathe.’”
Mardie Rees is recognized as one of the best young figurative sculptors in America. In 2010, she received the prestigious First Honour Award from the Portrait Society of America for her bronze bust of a woman, which she called ‘Truth Beloved.”
The sculpture will now travel to Two Ravens foundry in Tacoma, WA where it will be cast in bronze early this summer. Installation at Shawnigan Lake School is scheduled for Founder's Day this October.
– Sarah Doyle
We acknowledge with respect the Coast Salish Peoples on whose traditional lands and waterways we live, learn and play. We are grateful for the opportunity to share in this beautiful region, and we aspire to healthy and respectful relationships with those who have lived on and cared for these lands for millennia.
Shawnigan Lake School is an independent co-educational boarding school for ages 12 –18 on Canada’s beautiful Pacific Coast. Our diverse, interdisciplinary and innovative programming helps shape the next generation of global leaders.
