Back Story
In the ‘70s Catherine Burgess, and Clay Ellis, Alan Reynolds the “first generation” of Edmonton abstract sculptors established Edmonton as an international hot spot for heavy metal constructivism. In 1977, Peter Hide a British metal sculptor moved to Edmonton to become a professor at the University of Alberta and became a central figure in the city’s growing modernist welded-steel sculpture movement.
In 1993, the Edmonton Contemporary Artists’ Society (ECAS) formed to foster local abstract art, organized the exhibition “Sculpture by Invitation” at the downtown Law Court Plaza. The exhibition featured the second generation of Edmonton abstract metal sculptors included Ryan McCourt, Andrew French, Mark Bellows, Bianca Khan and Rob Wilms. All were actively producing and exhibiting, large scale modernist, welded plate steel sculptures.
Here’s where it gets interesting.
Ray Lewis Enterprises (the site of the artworks) was called to fix a door at the Courthouse while the exhibition at the Courthouse was happening and after their repair man fixed the door, he was asked if he could move some sculptures. He said, “Yes,” even though he had never moved a sculpture in his life.
Soon Lewis and his staff were moving sculptures for artists, galleries and public installations around the city. He even helped artists by storing pieces in the yard of his shop and at his farm outside the city. Over the next 25+ years Lewis became a valued patron of Edmonton’s sculptor community.