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Gerald John Sandau
AFC,
Realistic, One-of-a-Kind, Wildlife Sculptures from Nature's Stone |
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Born in 1942, second of seven children, Gerald grew up on a farm near Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, in the historic Cypress Hills, in the heart of the Canadian prairies. An expert horseman at an early age, he spent his free time roaming the Cypress Hills, acquiring a kinship with the wild and the free. To him the First Nations winter camp on the outskirts of Maple Creek, the enormous buffalo wallows he played in as a child and the hundred yard ribbon of wagon ruts crossing the farm towards the Hills, all attested to the reality and richness of our Heritage. During his school years Gerald excelled in equestrian events, sporting events and art classes, but the love for horses and the outdoors was his passion. His school teachers labelled him a dreamer.
Gerald grew-up on the back of a horse in the summer and on his trap line in the winter, a sharp jackknife always in his pocket, from a piece of wood he carved his toys. 1961 saw him graduate from high school. The following year he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. After training in firefighting and crash rescue he spent the next five years with the Canadian Air Force in France and Germany. In the Base Fire Hall in Marville, France, is where he began to explore his talent and started his first challenging carving project. While holidaying in Ostend, Belgium, he met the love of his life, Yvonne. That same year they were married in Yvonne’s home town of Rochdale. Lancashire, England.
In 1967 Gerald was posted to Winnipeg, Manitoba and decided to end his Air Force career and go back to the family ranch which had relocated in southern Alberta. He took back to Canada a deep appreciation of the rich Art Culture of the European countries. They ranched in Scandia, Alberta for the next sixteen years and raised three wonderful children. While ranching, wildlife and habitat protection were a priority. In the community and district, he organized and trained the Volunteer Fire Department, and was the Fire Chief there for ten years.
In 1984 they moved to Chilliwack. Here Gerald was employed as a firefighter at Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack, and when not working on the Base, operated his own renovation business. It’s during this time he created many more beautiful pieces. The British Columbia forests provided a bountiful variety of medium. However, he had not yet found his true calling. In 1995 an accident amputated the four fingers of his left hand, making it impossible to hold the wood sculptures while working on them. Out of necessity, he turned to stone as a medium. "One does not move a three hundred pound piece of stone around, one move’s around it." Incredibly, with the limited use of his left hand and no formal training in the Arts, Gerald can turn large lumps of stone into detailed three dimensional images. He says, "God blessed each one of His Children with special, unique talents and gifts. As parents and guardians, help and encourage the children, so they may reach their full potential as God intended."
Today, if not spending time with his grandchildren, or Barbershop singing, you will find him in his studio, putting his imagination and perception into preserving, with love, a piece of our Heritage.
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Support for Conservation:
I am making the effort to support Wildlife and Habitat Conservation through my Artwork.
Special Achievements:
- 2012 - David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation
http://www.davidsheperd.org
"First Breath" (Humpback Whale and Calf)
Has been short-listed for the
"Wildlife Artist of the Year 2012"
At the Mall Galleries, London, England.
- 2008 - Art Junction Gallery, Function Junction Gallery, Whistler, BC
Exhibited
- 2007 - Eagle Trading Co. Gallery, Chilliwack, BC
Solo Exibition
- 2007 - Hands Across the Pacific, Cultural Center, Gimcheon City, Korea
Group Exhibition
- 2007 - Hands Across the Pacific, Tower Hall, Funabori, Tokyo, Japan
Group Exhibition
- 2004 - Art of Man Galleries, Chateau Lake Louise, Alberta
Exhibited 2004-2006
- 2000 - The Plaza Galleries, Whistler, BC
Exhibited 2000 to 2003
- 1999 - Chilliwack Art Center Gallery, Chilliwack, BC
Group Show
- 1996 - BC Woodcarvers Juried Exibition, Abbotsford BC
-1st, 2nd, 3rd in Human Category
-1st, 2nd, 3rd in Wildlife Category
- 1992 - BC Woodcarvers Juried Exibition, Abbotsford, BC
-Peoples Choice Award
-Best in Show Award
-1st, 2nd, 3rd in Open Category
Organization Membership:
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Direct Correspondence to:
Gerald Sandau
c/o
6035 #42 Vedder Road
Chilliwack, BC
Canada V2R 1E5
Tel: 604-858-2404
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Email: gysandau@shaw.ca
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