Tuesday, February 7, 2012

High Park Wood Spirit


While walking through High Park on Sunday I stumbled across this wood sprit carving on a dead tree and I have since learned that the City of Toronto had commissioned carver Colin Partridge to create 4 of these in 2006. Partridge, a retired RCMP officer (Mountie), used special chisels, a chainsaw, and other tools to carve into stumps and dead trees and then stained the works to hopefully protect them for awhile. I will have to go back and look for the other 3 as it is said that to see a wood spirit brings good luck!

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Awesome!...
So cool you are going back to capture the other ones :)

Shaun said...

If seeing one of these carvings brings luck, does seeing the photo count. As you can spread the luck globally.
Lovely photo and nice background story.
Shaun

VioletSky said...

These are very cool - and especially to find them in High Park.

Lowell said...

Oh boy, I like this. Look at the expression on the face and those eyes...kinda scary, actually. Very creative and I can't imagine using those tools (esp. the chain saw) to do such excellent work.

Deb said...

How nice to find something like this by accident. I love carvings on trees and stumps that are left in their natural surroundings

Mo said...

Yikes you wouldn't want ot stumble on this in the dark after a wee dram would you.

jennyfreckles said...

Love this - do go and find the others to show us.

ArtandArchitecture-SF.com said...

That is soooo cool.

Sharon said...

What a fantastic thing to stumble across. I love it.

Paul in Powell River said...

Great idea! - I just wonder how long Mother Nature will take before you can't tell what they were.

Jack said...

Very clever, Redpat. I want to find a big tree trunk carved into a bear. But until I do, your tree sprite is a pretty good substitute.

Randy said...

That is great, I love it!

LĂșcia said...

What an amazing idea!
I hope it brings lots of luck to you! :)

geoffsteen said...

Great idea and great photo!

Karl said...

Wonderful sculpture, so an intensive expression!

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Very clever idea Red, I'm feeling a little bit lucky just to see him here!! I hope the feeling lasts until I can get a lotto ticket tomorrow haha!

Wayne said...

What a clever idea. I love the 'grotesque' style.

Halcyon said...

Very cool!

Sallie (FullTime-Life.com said...

Never had the good fortune to visit Toronto, but I've seen a similar carving somewhere else (wracking my brain trying to think where)...wondering if the carver got a commission anywhere else, or if it is just a coincidence.

EG CameraGirl said...

I love finding these faces carved in old trees! Cool!

Stefan Jansson said...

wow.

Colin Partridge said...

Thanks for all the nice comments I actually carved this piece. The tree was an old oak tree that had long since died. I just gave him a new life.

Leigh-Ann de Jonge, RD said...

Colin could you give us clues to find all 4 of your wood faces? We have found 2 so far.

Unknown said...

does anyone know where all 4 trees are?
I found the one at the south east part of Grenadier Pond. Clues to see the others would be helpful. Going to walk High Park on Sunday.
Anyone who can help??
Thanks

Sue