Del Newbigging

Robert Delford Newbigging (1934-2012) was a Canadian artist, visual arts teacher, children's author, whose bronze-fashioned works have been showcased in art galleries across Europe and North America.[1] Newbigging is best known for facilitating the project concept, development and creation of Toronto's Alexander Wood statue.[2]

Del Newbigging
Born
Robert Delford Newbigging

(1934-09-29)September 29, 1934
Listowel, Ontario
DiedAugust 23, 2012(2012-08-23) (aged 77)
OccupationArtist, author, arts teacher
Notable work
Alexander Wood Statue
Board member ofMedallic Art Society of Canada
Spouse(s)John Carolan

Authorship

Popularly known by the nickname Del Newbigging, the Listowel, Ontario native was author and illustrator of Robert Rat Has A Problem, a children's book teaching the significance of agreeing to disagree and the importance of nutrition.[3]

Medallist

On July 16, 2000,[4] Newbigging co-founded the Medallic Art Society of Canada (MASC),[5] an organization "dedicated to the creation, promotion, appreciation and education of the fine art of the medal."[6]

Alexander Wood

Of his body of works, Newbigging's most notable contribution is his monumental statue of the late Alexander Wood,[7] a merchant and magistrate in the city of York (now Toronto).[8]

Alexander Wood statue at the corner of Church and Alexander streets in Toronto.

Set in the Church-Wellesley neighborhood, the bronze sculpture of Alexander Wood is posted at the Church Street and Alexander Street intersection. It was officially unveiled on Saturday May 28, 2005.[9]

"It’s a symbol for any minority community that has struggled and fought to be accepted for their place and home in our city," said Dennis O’Connor, the former Church-Wellesley BIA chair, at the unveiling ceremony.[8]

Newbigging's statue of Wood came after a two year process of development.[1] The two-and-a-half-metre-tall bronze figure was formed almost entirely from that which Newbigging visualized Wood's physical appearance to be, with his prime reference said to have been a mere a silhouette of Wood.[10][2]

"Del Newbigging’s legacy in Toronto’s gay community is literally set not in stone, but rather in a cast of bronze," Toronto City Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam told the press. "His meticulous planning and confident execution of Canada’s only monument to a gay pioneer will forever stand proudly over the Church and Wellesley Village. We have Del to thank for this superb contribution to the community."[11]

References
  1. "Creator of the iconic statue that defines Gaytown". NOW Magazine. August 29, 2012.
  2. Kirzner, Ellie (August 29, 2012). "Farewell to Del Newbigging (1934 - 2012) Creator of the iconic statue that defines Gaytown". NOW Magazine.
  3. Newbigging, Robert Delford (2010). Robert Rat has a problem. Bloomington, IN: Author House. ISBN 9781456711733. OCLC 875971148.
  4. Jaskus, Saulius. "Medallic Art Society of Canada - MASC - The History of MASC". www.medallicart.ca. MASC. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  5. "Del NEWBIGGING Obituary". The Toronto Star. August 27, 2012.
  6. "Medallic Art Society of Canada".
  7. ALLEMANG, JOHN (January 24, 2014). "What Toronto's citizens of stone tell us about our history". The Globe and Mail.
  8. Bredin, Simon (June 29, 2016). "Delving into the complicated history of a man who helped found the Church-Wellesley Village". www.torontoist.com.
  9. PROULX, SHAUN (May 21, 2005). "Tall, bronzed man moves to gay village". The Globe and Mail.
  10. "Alexander Wood 1772-1844". Toronto's Historical Plaques.
  11. LaRiviere, Serafin (August 8, 2012). "Sculptor created Canada's only statue to a gay pioneer". Xtra.
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