Mixed Media Sculpture of Stephen Cole

Stephen Cole was born in Swan River Manitoba. He was raised in Salmon Arm BC and started carving at 14, drawing at 16, and painting oils at 20. He started as a stone mason in 1976.

Gabriola Island became his home in 2009 where he began transforming his house and yard into living art. In 2015 art became the priority and Stephen has been a fixture on the island ever since.

We asked this artist three questions. 1) What is each sculpture made of? 2) Why did he choose that particular medium? 3) What was his inspiration for each piece? These are his answers.

Transient

Carved Hydrostone Sculpture with Pigment - 30.5"H x16"W x 5.5"D

Fleeting is carved reinforced Hydrostone. I chose Hydrostone because I could use an old distorted life cast mold to get a blank of Hydrostone close to what I wanted which would drastically cut down on material waste and carving time.

Our bodies are a river of atoms that flow through us constantly. The body we had a minute ago is not the same as the body we have now.

Its futile to hold onto what we were but in this flowing collection of energy that we call ourselves there is choice. If we let go, maybe we can learn to swim.

Fleeting

Life Cast merged with free formed sculpture in Hydrostone, Acrylic and Resin.- 22.5”H x 15.75”W x 15.5”D

Fleeting is three separate sculptures fused together. I chose reinforced Hydrocal for its ability to bond to itself and for a longer working time. It gels and is workable for several minutes.

We are what we are living in this world for a moment. We can let life happen to us or we can wake up into who we really are and take part in living consciously now.

It may be the only chance we have to experience a true miracle - ourselves and the world we have taken for granted.

lemanja

Black Chlorite - Lemanja 20" H x 5" W x 4" D

I didn't choose Chlorite for Lemanja, Lemanja chose to emerge from the chlorite. All I knew was I wanted to carve a very black stone. I often have very little idea what I'm going to carve prior to starting. Shortly after I start carving a story and an image will come. Such was the case with Lemanja.

Many of my peak experiences have been on the water. When I’m on the ocean I talk to her, I dance with her and I make deals. Lemanja was inspired a couple of hundred miles offshore in a North Pacific storm. After four days of seasickness and prepping for abandoning ship, came surrender to the massive power of this beautiful giant. I asked her once again "help us get home."

Lemanja is the Goddess that watches over sailors, she's very powerful and is concerned with every aspect of womanhood. She is Queen of the ocean.

lumina

Cast Sculpture with light and vibrant colour - 24"H x15.5"W x 5"D

I chose to use reinforced Hydrostone because it creates very hard casts which are paintable and can hold fine detail.

I see a world obsessed with imaginary perfect bodies. There is shame around wrinkles, scars, stretch marks, etc. We carry our marks and scars as a record of a life lived. They give us character and a unique beauty while telling our story. Lumina is a map of years of choices that have coloured and carved her. The deep cuts reveal her inner light.

Wear your marks and scars with pride. You worked for them. They make you shine. ~