WINDSOR, NOVA SCOTIA, Canada – North and slightly west of Alamogordo, New Mexico stands a monolith in desert valley surrounded by a chain-link fence festooned with photos. Photos of the first atomic blast taken with high-speed cameras. The black monolith stands in appropriate silence as a marker to that first blast and the history it wrought. Twice each year visitors are permitted into the site through Stallion Gate off route 380.
The site is grim and disturbing when thinking of the impact of that night in the desert.
Canadian artist, Tim Schmalz went looking for a monument in Canada not long ago. Funny thing happened on the way to the monument. There wasn’t one!
Schmalz was visiting Ottawa and expected to seek and find the monument to Canada’s past time, ice hockey.
Veteran%27s Memorial
His artistic medium is sculpture and his work has appeared in juried exhibits but his most important accomplishment is the gift he was permitted to bestow on Pope John Paul II, The Quiet Moment. The honor was made through the Canadian Council of Bishops.
“I have the honor of having another of my famous sculptures in downtown Rome at the Santo Spirito Hospital (the oldest hospital in the world),” Schmalz said.
“I have also created the largest sculpture of St. Patrick in Ireland. My work in Canada is a celebration of our Euro-Christian history. The most complex bronze sculptor in Canada that I have created is the Sudbury
Mining Memorial
Schmalz has also sculpted a Veterans Memorial depicting soldiers, sailors and airmen from all the wars Canada has fought in.
Over the past two years of working on his tribute to the game Schmalz has become a hockey fan. He grew up loving art and committed himself to developing his talents as an artist, not a hockey player.
It was not until recently that he even considered hockey as a subject matter.
“I think during this time I was like most people in the arts living in Canada. Whether we were conditioned not to think about hockey as a worthy subject to express with our talent, or whether it was the fact that hockey was so omni-present in our lives, I’m not sure, but we did not consider it as a subject matter, Schmalz said.
“I have become a great fan of hockey over the last two years of working on the project. Although my distance to the game growing up I think was very helpful for seeing the game in a very unusual perspective as subject matter for sculpture.”
Artists look for stories to tell and want to make an impact on their patrons and those who view their art. Schmalz says that if he were living in the 18th century he might well be sculpting a politician. But he feels people have lost faith in their governments and he sees no need to immortalize them for historians.
Schmalz’ monument to hockey is being built by the people of Canada. The prototype for the monument is on a coast to coast tour of Canada and the Maritimes were the first province to be visited by the artist and monument.
It is a peoples’ monument, not a government’s or a generous patron’s monument. Much like the sport belongs to the people of Canada.
“I just got back from the Maritimes and thousands of people gave a dollar or two. They have helped build something great,” Schmalz said. “I don’t
Hewfoundland Hockey legend George Faulker (r) with the artist
“Imagine when all is said in done for people to realize what they are looking at was built by all Canadians – a peoples’ tribute.”
The monument’s prototype will not be completed until it reaches the west coast of Canada.
“The monument will be completed after it reaches the other side of Canada. I am only working on the 10-foot proto type at different stops across Canada.”
All of Canada is the studio for this project. After the prototype is finished it will be enlarged to its 50-foot scale and an installation place will be determined.
“My sponsorship is simple. I am looking for help in helping the people have the chance to build the National Hockey Monument. Cities, hockey clubs and business are doing what they can in promoting the project. Every dollar that I get from individual hockey fan is what I call sacred- it goes to the enlargement of the bronze monument. All other expenses, including the tour, the base, everything else is open to any and all help, big or
Artist and monument
One man, one truck, one prototype.
Tim Schmalz will be writing a journal on his trip across Canada building the monument for Pro Hockey News. We are pleased to offer this small assist to Tim in his travels and efforts. We look forward to his entries as he crosses the nation.
Find out more information on the monument and Tim Schmalz at www.hockeymonument.com.
Contact the author at lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com.
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