Peter Sawatzky, (1951 – ) is a Canadian sculptor from Sommerfeld, Manitoba. He is known for his large-scale work in bronze, many of animals.

Career

Peter Sawatzky grew up on his family's farm in the Mennonite village of Sommerfeld and attended the Commercial Art Course at Red River College in Winnipeg. In 1974, Sawatzky discovered his true interest which combined his fascination for bird life and for carving. He first carved birds in basswood using the wildlife in the Spruce Woods Provincial Park in Manitoba as models.A Dictionary of Canadian Artists, volumes 1-8 by Colin S. MacDonald, and volume 9 (online only), by Anne Newlands and Judith Parker National Gallery of Canada / Musée des beaux-arts du Canada Awards and exhibitions won the artist international recognition and by the mid 80's, his success enabled him to make the decision to work in bronze and to set up his own foundry in Manitoba. In 1995, he cast a 4,000 pound bronze sculpture entitled ''The Passage of Time'' for the south side of Winnipeg's Charleswood Bridge. Notable works by Sawatzky include ''Seal River Crossing'' (2007) at Portage and Main in Winnipeg, ''Mother Polar Bear and Cubs'' (2014) at the

Assiniboine Park Assiniboine Park (formerly known as City Park) is a park in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, located along the Assiniboine River. The Winnipeg Public Parks Board was formed in 1893, and purchased the initial land for the park in 1904. Although in use ...

, and a sculpture of Dirk Willems at the Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach, Manitoba (2018). He received the

Order of Manitoba The Order of Manitoba (french: Ordre du Manitoba) is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Manitoba. Instituted in 1999 when Lieutenant Governor Peter Liba granted Royal Assent to The Order of Manitoba Act, the order is administe ...

in recognition of his work in 2008.

References

1951 births Canadian sculptors Canadian male sculptors Members of the Order of Manitoba Artists from Manitoba Canadian Mennonites Living people People from Pembina Valley Region, Manitoba Mennonite artists {{canada-artist-stub