Godfrey Stephens
{{short description|Canadian artist (born 1939)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox artist
|name = Godfrey Stephens
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|birth_name = Godfrey Rupert Cripps Stephens
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1939|10|28|df=y}}
|birth_place = Duncan, British Columbia, Canada
|nationality =
|field = {{Flatlist|
- Painter
- Wood carving
- Boat building
}}
|training = Self-taught
|website = {{URL|https://www.godfreysart.com/}}
}}
Godfrey Rupert Cripps Stephens (born 28 October 1939) is a Canadian artist, best known for his protest sculpture Weeping Cedar Woman and large abstract wooden columns. His painting and sculpting style combines West Coast iconography from First Nations references to classical Greek and nautical elements. He is also a wooden boat builder.{{cite book|last=Kahn|first=Lloyd|title=Tiny Homes on the Move|date=2014|publisher=Shelter Publications|location=California|isbn=978-0-936070-62-9|pages=174–179}}
Life and work
Godfrey Stephens was born in Duncan, British Columbia. As a boy, he began an influential relationship with First Nations carver Chief Mungo Martin and Tony Hunt and began carving.{{cite book|last=Kahn|first=Lloyd|title=Builders of the Pacific Coast|date=2008|publisher=Shelter Publications|location=California|isbn=978-0-936070-43-8|pages=100–109}} He dropped out of school at the age of 14.{{cite news|last=Amos|first=Robert|title=Folk artist a child at heart|newspaper=Islander|date=19 November 2000}} Mostly self-taught, living on his boats, Godfrey has painted and sculpted his whole life with no other occupation In 1973, the 24 foot tall abstract cedar columns were inaugurated at Victoria's Times Colonist Press buildingsTimes Colonist. 22 February 1973 Daily columnist where they currently stand Times Colonist articles{{cite book|last=Stephens|first=Gurdeep|title=Wood Storm Wild Canvas|date=2014|publisher=D and I Enterprises}} In 1971, at a ceremony to inaugurate the Pacific Rim Park, then Federal Parks Minister Jean Chretien presented Princess Anne with a small wooden abstract carving the Parks Board commissioned from Godfrey.{{cite news|last1=Trebett|first1=Margaret|title=Teepee Workshop Produces A Gift for Royalty|work=Times Colonist |date=February 1971}} In 1984, Godfrey carved Weeping Cedar Woman to protest the logging of the ancient trees of Clay'quot Sound.{{Cite web |url=http://www.westerlynews.ca/local-news/tofitians-seeking-funds-to-return-weeping-cedar-woman-to-tofino-1.800665 |title=Tofitians Seeking Funds to Return Weeping Cedar Woman to Tofino |publisher=westerlynews.ca |access-date=24 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719074957/http://www.westerlynews.ca/local-news/tofitians-seeking-funds-to-return-weeping-cedar-woman-to-tofino-1.800665 |archive-date=19 July 2014 |url-status=dead}} The 18 foot tall protest piece stayed on Strawberry Island for 17 years and is currently in Tofino, British Columbia.{{cite web|last=Morrow|first=Shayne|title=Two major artworks continue to inspire, 30 years after Meares Island Protest|date=25 April 2014|url=http://www.hashilthsa.com/news/2014-04-25/two-major-artworks-continue-inspire-30-years-after-meares-island-protest|publisher=Ha-Shilth-Sa|accessdate=25 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714150334/http://www.hashilthsa.com/news/2014-04-25/two-major-artworks-continue-inspire-30-years-after-meares-island-protest|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=live}} Godfrey has produced a large body of work including paintings, sculptures and sailing vessels. Godfrey is the older brother of Nature's Path Foods founder Arran Stephens.
Books and media
Godfrey and his art have appeared in several books,{{cite book|last1=Rubin|first1=Daniel Stone|title=Salt on the Wind|date=22 May 2002|publisher=Fitzhenry & Whiteside|location=Markham, Ontario|isbn=092066346X}}{{cite book|last=Struthers|first=Andrew|title=The Last Voyage of the Loch Ryan|date=August 2004|publisher=New Star Books|location=Vancouver|isbn=1-55420-008-3|pages=65–66,105,114,160,170,183–184}}{{cite book|last=Mason|first=Adrienne|title=Long Beach Wild|date=2012|publisher=Greystone Books|location=Vancouver, Canada|isbn=978-1-55365-344-8|pages=158, 160, 181}}{{cite book|last=Kahn|first=LLoyd|title=Home Work Handbuilt Shelter|date=2004|publisher=Shelter Publications|location=California|isbn=978-0-936070-33-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/homeworkhandbuil00kahn/page/232 232]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/homeworkhandbuil00kahn/page/232}}{{cite book|last=Stephens|first=Gurdeep|title=Wood Storms, Wild Canvas: The Art of Godfrey Stephens|date=2014|publisher=D & I Enterprises|location=Victoria|isbn=978-0-9938521-0-7}} magazines,{{cite news |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,836148,00.html |title=West Germany: Die Gammler|work=Time|date=5 August 1966}}{{cite news|title=Princess Anne answers Tony Frost's questions in her room|newspaper=Royalty Monthly|date=1987}}Western Living Magazine, April 2008 p 43 newspapers,{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Erith|title=Massive Columns Grace Newspaper Lobby|newspaper=Times Colonist|date=22 February 1973}}{{cite news|last=Chadwick|first=Vivienne|title=He Travels Far, Light Sculptor seeks studio|newspaper=Victoria Daily|date=1971}}{{cite news|last=Dedyna|first=Katherine|title=Victoria artist inspired author|newspaper=Times Colonist|date=22 November 2008|pages=E1–E2}}{{cite news|last1=Fitzpatrick|first1=Donna|title=Arts Festival '77|newspaper=The Westcoaster|date= 9 February 1977|last2=Hood|first2=Phil|page=8}}{{cite web|last=Amos|first=Robert |date=6 February 2007 |url=http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=4ad97093-79cd-4cb4-9da9-8677a63c9b5a&sponsor= |title=Artist recalls colourful past |work=Times Colonist |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140615103329/http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=4ad97093-79cd-4cb4-9da9-8677a63c9b5a&sponsor=#selection-155.28-159.16 |archive-date=15 June 2014}}{{cite news|last=Haiker|first=Bill|title=Victoria Times|date= 10 February 1973}}{{cite news|title=Carving Weather|newspaper=Sooke News Mirror|date= 26 April 1995|page=3}} and blogs.{{cite web|last=Bailey|first=Andrew|title=Tofitians seeking funds to return Weeping Cedar Woman to Tofino|url=http://www.westerlynews.ca/local-news/tofitians-seeking-funds-to-return-weeping-cedar-woman-to-tofino-1.800665|publisher=Westerly News|accessdate=24 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306063406/http://www.westerlynews.ca/local-news/tofitians-seeking-funds-to-return-weeping-cedar-woman-to-tofino-1.800665|archive-date=6 March 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Kahn|first=Lloyd|title=Godfrey Stephens' New 12' Pelican Sailboat|date=21 April 2012|url=http://lloydkahn-ongoing.blogspot.ca/2012/04/godfrey-stephens-new-12-pelican.html|access-date=24 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714233148/http://lloydkahn-ongoing.blogspot.ca/2012/04/godfrey-stephens-new-12-pelican.html|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=live}} Lloyd Kahn credits Godfrey as the inspiration for his popular book Builders of the Pacific Coast by Shelter Publications.page Lloyd Kahn's book Builders of the Pacific Coast, introduction The book Wood Storms, Wild Canvas: The Art of Godfrey Stephens by Gurdeep Stephens focuses exclusively on highlights of Godfrey's art, with photos of over 100 carvings, paintings and sailing vessels. Wood Storms, Wild Canvas won a Gold Medal for regional non-fiction in the 2015 19th Annual Independent Publisher Book Awards also known as the IPPY Awards.{{cite web|title=2015 Independent Publisher Book Awards Regional & Ebook Results|url=http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1937|website=Independent Publisher|publisher=Jenkins Group|accessdate=27 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627025344/http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1937|archive-date=27 June 2015|url-status=live}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- {{official|https://www.godfreysart.com/}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Godfrey}}
Category:Canadian male sculptors
Category:20th-century Canadian painters
Category:Canadian male painters
Category:Artists from British Columbia
Category:People from Duncan, British Columbia