Video - Balancing - Decoding ART - Public Art

Transcript of Balancing

Narrator: “This capsule is presented by Canadian Heritage”

[Canadian Heritage signature]

[The sculpture, five characters taking different poses on a Y shape base; a man sitting, a man standing with his arms wide opened, a woman standing looking far away, a man with his arms crossed and another one with one arm above his head]

Narrator: “Throughout his career, artist John Hooper created works that invite interaction and reflection. Balancing is certainly no exception. It is, in fact, one of the most popular works of public art in Canada's Capital Region.

“The figures in the sculpture reflect the vibrancy of the region itself and the people who live here. The sculpture also symbolizes, in a humorous way, the importance of balancing the various aspects of our lives.”

[The sculptor John Hooper working on his artwork]

Narrator: “John Hooper was born in England, and had lived in China, India and South Africa, before finally making his home in New Brunswick in the 1960s.”

[The Terry Fox statue]

Narrator: “Another of his works is the Terry Fox statue, which can be seen standing across from Parliament Hill.”

[Components of the sculpture in the workshop during restoration]

Narrator: “After 30 years of Ottawa's hot, humid summers and icy cold winters, and after an unwelcome stay by a colony of bees, major restoration work was needed to save this important piece of art.

“The sculpture was brought back to Hooper Studios, where artist Kathy Hooper, who is John's widow, along with sculptor Darren Byers, John Hooper's friend and former assistant, began this incredible adventure in restoration. Both artists had worked on Balancing when the sculpture was created in 1981. The figures in the sculpture were first cleaned inside and out. Wood was replaced, glued, sculpted and painted in order to produce a piece exactly the same size and same colours as the original. It took a full two years of loving care and talent to restore Balancing to its former status as one of the Capital's favourite sculptures.”

[The sculpture outside after the restoration]

Narrator: “Hooper once said: 'I believe that works of art placed outside galleries and in public environments are the strongest links between the general public and the artist....

“And this is exactly what Balancing does so well.”

[Canada wordmark]