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OUTSIDE SUNSET HAVEN – “Abstract” Marks Anniversary
By Paul Forsyth
[Welland Tribune, 24 January 1986]
WELLAND- When Heinz Gaugel created a 16-foot high sculpture outside Sunset Haven Home for the Aged, he was trying to get a message across. Now 20 years later, the theme still radiates from the work.
“Has it really been 20 years?” asks Gaugel, who was unaware that this week marked the sculpture’s 20th anniversary.
[Standing in front of the statue are, left to right, residents May Quinn and Laura Campaigne. In the back are maintenance employees Walter Fogel and Dominic Trozzi.]
THREE MONTHS-The concrete steel and stone abstract work took him three months to complete in 1966, and was created to complement the modern addition of Sunset Haven.
“I selected stones from a quarry in Paris, Ont.-the greenish ones-because I wanted to have a contrast with the red brick wall behind it. It’s basically a steel frame covered with a strong wire, and cement put over it and the stones put in the wet cement.”
Gaugel, now 58, is world-renowned artist of many disciplines.
A native of Germany, he immigrated to Canada 35 years ago and has done artwork on a large scale all over the continent.
Included in some of his local works are a mural of the Last Supper inside Sunset Haven and a mural at St. Andrew’s Church.
SOMETHING APPROPRIATE-“The thing was to find something appropriate for the home of the aged. I felt the name-Sunset Haven-meant there was a need to project the feeling that people are protected and taking care of each other.
“It is an exchange of love and protection-the care of humanity.
That’s the general idea. It’s a man and a woman protecting each other and holding each other in the sunset of their lives.”
On the building behind the sculpture a setting sun is depicted, and flood lighting at night creates an interesting effect.
BEAUTIFUL SHADOW-“The two people in front cast a very beautiful shadow. It’s a little more dramatic than I expected it to be-I’m very happy with what’s been done there.
“I’m surprised after 20 years it’s still in mint condition, but I’m very happy about that.”
Gaugel gave no name to the sculpture-a belief he has with all his works.
“I never have named any of the things I have done. I don’t think names should be given-it limits it to some extent.”
Instead, he leaves names up to those in possession of his works.
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