Paskwamostos

Fafard’s career was focused on plaster and ceramics before shifting to bronze sculpture in 1985 upon opening the Julienne Atelier foundry in Pense, Saskatchewan. Currently he lives and works from his acreage in Lumsden, Saskatchewan outside of Regina. The landscape, people and animals of Fafard’s surroundings influence his work. Horses, deer and foxes have all been subjects in his sculpture, while cows have become one of his trademarks. Fafard is world renowned and the recipient of numerous awards, including the designation of Officer to the Order of Canada recognizing his contribution to the arts in Canada in 1981 and the Architectural Institute of Canada Allied Arts Award in 1987. He received an Honorary Degree from the University of Regina in 1989 as well as the University of Manitoba in 2007. Most recently, a retrospective of his work organized by the National Gallery of Canada and the Mackenzie Art Gallery toured 6 venues over two years from 2007 to 2009.

The large plasma-cut and powder-coated steel sculpture stands over three and a half meters high, recalling the magnificent size of a Bison. Its convex shape towers over and surrounds the viewer, drawing the viewer in to its centre. The title can be traced back to the Cree word for Bison, revealing the influence of aboriginal culture and legends on the artist, as well as the inspiration from his Saskatchewan home on the Great Plains. “The Bison is an animal of strength and symbolism. It represents food, clothing and shelter for our native western Canadian people,” according to the donor of the artwork, JR Shaw, Executive Chairman of Shaw Communications Inc. on whose property the sculpture sits. The sculpture is located on the lookout deck on the south side of the Shaw Conference Centre.