John Weaver (artist)

John Barney Weaver (March 28, 1920 – April 10, 2012)[1][2] was a sculptor from Anaconda, Montana. He was known for creating a statue of Charles Marion Russell at the National Statuary Hall Collection, and three busts of Chester W. Nimitz for the United States Navy.

John Barney Weaver
John Weaver with a Piper Richardson statue model, circa 2003
Born(1920-03-28)March 28, 1920
Anaconda, Montana
DiedApril 10, 2012(2012-04-10) (aged 92)
Silver Creek, BC
NationalityAmerican/Canadian
EducationSchool of the Art Institute of Chicago
Known forSculptor
Notable work
Statue of Charles Marion Russell, in the National Statuary Hall Collection
Wayne Gretzky statue in Edmonton
"The Bullwacker" in Helena, Montana
AwardsDoctorate of Laws, Honoris Causa, University of Alberta, 1984.
Alberta Achievement Award, 1977
Rotary Club Blue Ribbon, Clay Modeling, 1929–1931
Patron(s)State of Montana
City of Edmonton
Helena Civic Center Board
Websitehttp://johnweaversculptor.com

Biography

John Barney Weaver was born on March 28, 1920 in Anaconda, Montana. He trained under his father, John Bruce "Pop" Weaver, a painter and sculptor. He has a son named Henry, and a daughter named Sara.[3]

Career

Weaver graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1946, where he studied with Albin Polasek and Emil Zettler.[4] He received a teaching position in sculpture and figure drawing at the Layton School of Art in Milwaukee where he taught from 1946 to 1951.[4] He was a curator for the Montana Historical Society for five years. He worked as a Natural History Sculptor for the Smithsonian Institution for six years. In 1966, he started working with the Alberta Provincial Museum prior to its opening on December 6, 1967.[5] He became a Canadian citizen in 1973. Weaver died of a heart attack at the age of 92 on April 12, 2013 at his home of many years in Silver Creek, BC. "In bronze his zest for fine art and human achievement can endure for millennia; in our hearts his strength and loving care will endure forever."[2]

Notable works

Weaver created over 2000 works in his lifetime.

Canada
  • The Stake, Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, 1967
  • Pronghorn Antelopes, Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, 1970
  • The Frieze, Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, 1971
  • Edmonton Traders, south side of Stanley A. Milner Library, 1971
  • Deerfoot, Deerfoot Mall, Calgary, 1982
  • Arthur Henry Griesbach, Northlands Coliseum entrance to the LRT station, Edmonton, 1982
  • The Speed Skater, Olympic Oval, Calgary, 1984
  • Wayne Gretzky, Rogers Place, Edmonton, 1989.[6]
  • The Merchant, outside Sun Life Place, Edmonton, 1989
  • Victoria Pacifica, Songhees Walkway, Victoria, 1990.
  • Madonna of the Wheat, outside Edmonton City Hall, 2000
  • Robbie Burns, Oliver Park, across from Hotel Macdonald, Edmonton, 2000
  • Piper Richardson, in front of Chilliwack Museum, 2003.[7] (Weaver's last public monument)
  • Stampede Rescue, unfinished, to be completed by his son.

United States

Legacy

On March 28, 2010, Weaver's 90th birthday, the House of Representatives and Senate both stopped proceedings to give the sculptor a standing ovation as well as singing happy birthday.[11]

Statue located in Edmonton, of Wayne Gretzky hoisting the Stanley Cup.
Charles Marion Russell, National Statuary Hall Collection
The Bullwacker in Helena, Montana
Piper Richardson statue in Chilliwack, BC.

References
  1. "John Weaver – Biography, vital info and auction records for John Barney (Jack) Weaver". Askart.com. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  2. "Obituaries". Hope Standard. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  3. "City of Chilliwack – John Weaver and his Studio – Piper Richardson – Chilliwack Museum & Archives – Arts & Culture – Community Organizations". Chilliwack.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  4. Gilbert, Dorothy B., ‘’Who's Who in American Art 1962", R.R. Bowker Company, New York, 1962 p.639
  5. "Royal Alberta Museum : Visit the Museum : About the Museum : Museum History". Royalalbertamuseum.ca. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  6. "John Weaver Fine Arts Ltd". Johnweaversculptor.com. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  7. "City of Chillwack". Chilliwack.com. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  8. Gilbert, Dorothy B., ‘’Who's Who in American Art 1962", R.R. Bowker Company, New York, 1962
  9. "Charles Marion Russell". Aoc.gov. October 24, 1926. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  10. "Bullwhacker Bronze". Helenaciviccenterboard.org. Archived from the original on March 2, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  11. Klinkenberg, Marty. "Monumental achievements; Scores of Albertans know the work of sculptor John Weaver, who reached his 'pinnacle' in Edmonton", Edmonton Journal, May 13, 2012.

Bibliography
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