Al Waxman | Part 1

My name is Ruth Abernethy, you're actually viewing a sculpture that I made at the request of the merchants of Kensington, this to honour one of their prize citizens, Al Waxman, who was a Canadian actor and director.

The process of a portrait begins with scrutiny and remembrance and thoughtful picture watching. In his case there was a very well known program called "King of Kensington", in which he played an immigrant to Canada with a young wife running a small business. So Al Waxman, as "King of Kensington" is a living room character for huge numbers of Canadians who would have grown up with the television series. I was asked by the merchants of Kensington to honour Al after his death and it was very shortly after. So although, on one hand, for the friends and supporters it's a celebration of Al's accomplishment and his life, it is also very much about his family who are in mourning. So, I spoke to Al's widow and his children and I had a meeting with Adam at one point. And I approach a portrait with the conviction that it will look like the subject when I'm done. That's a given. But what I want to make it more interesting is actually a sense of a moment in a day, in a place, in this life. And I was trying to explain this to Adam and finally he said, "Oh, you want me to set the scene", and I said, “Yes. I want you to tell me why he's standing here in this park, right now. To be engaging he has to be part of your community and he wouldn't be standing there with no purpose".

So, when you see Al standing in the park, he's there. He used to meet cronies and have coffee and talk with old friends. And we wanted him there. And I wanted him turned just slightly as though he'd just seen a friend approaching across the street, was just going to turn and wave. So, Al is there, it's very much his place.

Want to hear more? Check out Part 2.

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