Ron Baird
Spirit Catcher by Ron Baird
Born
Ronald Arnott Baird

1940 (age 83–84)
Toronto, Ontario
Alma materOntario College of Art
OccupationArtist
Known forlarge-scale stainless steel sculptor, printmaker
AwardsAllied Arts Award from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
Named to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (1978)

Ronald Arnott Baird RCA is a Canadian artist. He is best known for his stainless-steel sculptures. He became a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1978 and the 1971 recipient of the Allied Arts Award from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

Career

Ron Baird was born in 1940 in Toronto, Ontario.[1] As an artist, he trained at the Ontario College of Art.[2] He first became known for his architectural sculptures.[3] Baird largely uses the medium of stainless steel.[4] Over his career, Ron Baird has received more than 300 commissions for public installations.[5] Many of these pieces are found on boardwalks,[6] harbours,[4] and hospitals.[7][8]

In 1971 Baird erected the tallest steel sculpture in North America (at 33.5 metres) at the Atmospheric Environment Services site (Environment Canada main headquarters) at 4905 Dufferin Street in Toronto.[9] That year he received the Allied Arts Award from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.[10] In 1978 he was named to the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.[11][12]

Baird's work Spirit Catcher was created for the 1986 Expo in Vancouver and placed along False Creek between the then Great Ramses II exhibit and McBarge in what is now George Wainborn Park(based on photo with view of Granville Street Bridge and Burrard Bridge in the background).[13] The sculpture consists of 20-tonnes of Corten-steel, and conveys the theme of reconciliation with Indigenous people. It currently sits on the waterfront in Barrie, Ontario. In 2018, he began a statue for the waterfront of Beaverton, Ontario, entitled Sky Woman.[5][14] Location of Sky Woman is pending on fate of Beaverton Harbour redevelopment.[15] Spirit Catcher[16] also has a sister sculpture named Sea Serpent on the Barrie waterfront at Heritage Park.[17] The second sculpture was in a private collection in the Horseshoe Valley area and later Kingston, Ontario. In 2018, Baird was selected for the La Biennale di Venezia, and his work was exhibited that year in the Palazzo Bembo on Venice's Grand Canal.[18]

Baird is now resident of Beaverton.

References

  1. ↑ McMann, Evelyn de Rostaing (24 November 2018). Biographical Index of Artists in Canada. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9780802027900 – via Google Books.
  2. ↑ Warkentin, John (24 November 2018). Creating Memory: A Guide to Outdoor Public Sculpture in Toronto. Becker Associates. ISBN 9780919387607 – via Google Books.
  3. ↑ Lerner, Loren Ruth; Williamson, Mary F. (24 November 1991). Art Et Architecture Au Canada. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9780802058560 – via Google Books.
  4. 1 2 Riley, Mary (14 May 2018). "Business Tour reveals hidden treasures in Brock".
  5. 1 2 "Who owns the copyright to a skyline?".
  6. ↑ Ward, Marshall (12 June 2017). "Opinion - The Boardwalk exemplifies public art".
  7. ↑ "Landscapes That Heal - The Ontario Association of Landscape Architects".
  8. ↑ Halliday, Chris (3 April 2017). "Orangeville mayor casts 'Mantis Queen' sculpture's arrival in frightening light".
  9. ↑ Torontoist (16 May 2012). "Placemaking: Three Dark Figures".
  10. ↑ Alfoldy, Sandra (28 March 2012). Allied Arts: Architecture and Craft in Postwar Canada. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. ISBN 9780773539600 – via Google Books.
  11. ↑ "recipients « Royal Canadian Academy of Arts". rca-arc.ca.
  12. ↑ "Ron Baird « Royal Canadian Academy of Arts". rca-arc.ca.
  13. ↑ "Inside McBarge as floating McDonald's that's been empty for 30 years prepares for £2.3m makeover - Irish Mirror Online". 8 March 2016.
  14. ↑ Hodgins, Bill (29 January 2018). "Beaverton business owner named Sky Woman project chair".
  15. ↑ "Brock Township divides Sky Woman and Beaverton Harbour issues". 7 May 2020.
  16. ↑ Ramsay, Janis (20 March 2014). "Spirit Catcher artist at work on new piece for Barrie".
  17. ↑ Watt, Laurie (22 August 2014). "Barrie opens arms to Sea Serpent".
  18. ↑ Hodgins, Bill (13 January 2018). "Beaverton artist selected for renowned Venice festival".
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