Objects

Viewing Record 26 of 27
Previous Record  Next Record
Switch Views: Lightbox | Image List | List

Item Name: Sculpture
Title: Rusty
Maker: Russell Yuristy
Year: 1980
Country: Canadian
Materials: Welded steel iron bar
Measurements: overall: 365.76 cm x 465.76 cm x 548.64 cm
ID Number: PC83.1.93
Legal Status: PERMANENT COLLECTION


Extended Label Info: Rusty is a large hollow steel framed sculpture of an elephant located outside of the Central Regina Public Library. Russell Yuristy is no stranger to drawing images of hollowed animals, and this is what caught the attention of Joe Fafard, a Canadian sculptor, who told him that he should make constructs out of these drawings. This motivated Yuristy to create steel framed sculptures which evolved into his phase of making playground apparatuses which resembled animals. Rusty is an example of these animal apparatuses which can be seen across north America. Russell Yuristy (1936- ) was born in Goodeve, Saskatchewan. He graduated with a degree in English and Creative Writing from the University of Saskatchewan (1959) before studying art at the University of Wisconsin (1967). After teaching art in Regina and coordinating workshops at Emma Lake, Yuristy moved to Stilton, Saskatchewan and began designing and constructing large playground structures. Yuristy’s playful designs defined many iconic spaces in the prairies, such as the red and white striped climbing “trees” in Regina’s Candy Cane Park, and the metal elephant Rusty on the north side of RPL Central Library. Although his sculptural play-spaces have been replaced as parks get updated, his approach was part of a revolution in public design. Today, Yuristy is known as a printmaker, painter and teacher whose works are based on the land and animal life around him. His artwork has been exhibited nationally and is held in numerous public and private collections, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Mendel Art Gallery Collection at Remai Modern, and the Canada Council Art Bank.

Related Media