KENOSEE LAKE - When you enjoy what you are doing, it does not seem like work and that is the case for Ken Frederickson.
Frederickson and his wife Heather live on a ranch east of Wawota, where they have cattle and horses. They raised their two sons on the ranch and have four grandsons.
For 30 years Frederickson was a professional photographer, travelling throughout Canada and the United States, taking in all the beauty of animals.
He has photographed every major agricultural event in those years and has a photographic memory. He said, “it’s been an interesting life.”
Frederickson had always liked bronze sculpting and seven years ago he gave it a whirl. After his first piece was completed, it was so successful, he continued with the art.
His first piece called, “Bear Soul” captured the attention of well-known artist, poet, and lawyer Ovide Mercredi. Mercredi would draft the poem to accompany this piece, and Frederickson would also create art to go along with Mercredi’s poems. His passion for sculpting would continue.
To create one piece of bronze sculpting is not for the faint of heart, and it takes nine painstaking steps to cast a bronze. It includes rubber moulds, a wax process, gating sprueing process, the ceramic shell and lost wax process, the bronze pouring, welding and sand blasting finish for the metal and finally the patina process. Each step must be completed with care, to ensure a beautiful outcome. It can take over six weeks to complete one sculpture.
Frederickson is a permanent resident at the Artist Colony of Moose Mountain Provincial Park, which is located beside the chalet. He dedicates his summers to his art. With over 3,500 visitors in one season, it keeps him busy. Art fans from as far as Africa and Mexico have graced his cabin to view his well-known art.
One piece that Frederickson sculpted was for the Logan Boulet Memorial Tournament. Boulet was one of 16 people that died in the tragic Humboldt bus crash. The trophy was ordered by Boulet’s dad, Toby. The perfect name for the trophy is “Loving the Game,” and resides at Boulet’s home arena in Lethbridge, Alta.
Another accomplishment, and there are many, is for the Canadian Champion of Auctioneer. This is a yearly award and is perfectly named, “The Calling.”
The Calgary Stampede has also seen Frederickson’s work. Sculptors from Canada and the United States try to win the vote to do a bronze trophy for the worldwide known event. If your sculpture is chosen, the original piece is put into the art collection. Frederickson won the bronze steer commission which is valid for five years.
Not all the pieces are finished in the bronze colour. Often his pieces will see the natural colour of animals.
Frederickson said, “I’ve had an interesting life, and it’s been very good to me.”
If you are looking for something to do, drive on down to the colony at the Moose Mountain Provincial Park and check out his artwork, it is well worth the drive.
