Deryk Houston, (born January 7, 1954), is a
Canadian
Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...
artist and the subject of a documentary created by the
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada (NFB; french: Office national du film du Canada (ONF)) is Canada's public film and digital media producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary f ...
, titled ''From Baghdad to Peace Country''.
In 1999, Houston had a life-altering journey to Baghdad. Unable to remain an outside observer of the crisis in Iraq, he travelled to witness first-hand the impact of international sanctions on the Iraqi people. Compelled to speak out, the artist embarked upon a unique nature art project designed to call attention to the situation of the children of Iraq. Using rocks, gravel and hay, Houston began to create large-scale art installations in the image of a mother and child against diverse landscapes around the world. His earthen-work Peace Sanctuary in Northeastern British Columbia can be seen via Google Maps.
Houston's work, including sculpture and painting, has been exhibited extensively in Canada and internationally and is in the collection of the
Canadian War Museum
The Canadian War Museum (french: link=no, Musée canadien de la guerre; CWM) is a national museum on the country's military history in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The museum serves as both an educational facility on Canadian military history, in ad ...
.
[
Houston has also created artwork used in several publications, including "Echoes from the Square". .
In 2015, in collaboration with Woodwynn farms, a therapeutic community for the homeless, Houston designed and constructed a one-acre Peace Garden. This incorporated sculptures and an eighty-foot diameter labyrinth filled with over five hundred edible sage and lavender. The idea was to bring the community together and provide a place of peace for everyone.
]
References
External links
Official website
From Baghdad to Peace Country
Art of the Peace
Deryk Houston's Art Exhibition Online
{{DEFAULTSORT:Houston, Deryk
1954 births
Canadian installation artists
Living people