Sculptors' art makes return journey home

He’s bringing his work home.

Gerald Jank has been sculpting metal for more than 40 years; and he has no plans of stopping anytime soon. The Montreal-born artist has made a home here for himself and wife Joyce and a few other special ‘guests.’

The last thing one would expect to see when driving up the yard to the Janks’ Woodville Road home is a series of monumental steel geese poised to take flight, ironically coined, “Return Journey Home.” Tucked away on their backwoods property is an amazing display of massive weathered sculptures. Those are the static pieces; the rest, Jank’s comparatively smaller figures, had been scattered in galleries and shops all over the Maritimes -- until recently.

Jank has begun the process of bringing his art home. With the recent addition of his own studio, he said the time had come to change his marketing strategy. And so far, it has been the right move. “I just decided it was time to get my pieces back.”

And for the first time, his work can finally be viewed as one unified collection.

Earlier this month, Jank held his official opening show, which exceeded all of his expectations. The door to his studio was spinning as fellow artists, and art admirers, came in droves to check out the modern, abstract figures. Even MP Scott Brison could not resist making a stop.

And pieces were selling, he noted. “I never could have imagined this level of response; I'm totally amazed.” He noted that in the retail market, the markup tops an additional 40 percent on the artists’ prices. “Selling them on my own makes them much more affordable.”

For fun, not money

Jank is not accustomed, however, to packing up his work and seeing it out the door with a new owner. “I don’t do this for the money; I do it for fun.” Yet business is business, he acknowledged. “There are some pieces I just can't sell,” he admitted, though. “We’ve had them for years and my wife has just become attached.”

In fact, the artist donates many of his pieces to good causes. Bosom Buddies of Nova Scotia had commissioned a trophy for the “Atlantic Survivors Dragon Boat Festival” and were there for the opening. Karen Freeman was more than pleased with the finished product. “This is absolutely beautiful,” she said.

Jank said his art is primarily an outdoors pursuit. “Sparks kind of fly here when I'm working.” His workshop houses two tonnes of recycled metal and steel and every item is crafted by hand and welded. “Basically I reclaim metal and steel and change their destiny into art.” Jank said the pieces are made from a combination of iron, stone and crystals are a reflection of his surrounding. Much of the metal he uses has been found strewn about the shores of the Bay of Fundy. “It is metal shaped by nature. It creates a message that humanity must live in harmony with the things around them.” It’s well represented in the Janks’ garden. With the success of his opening show behind him, Jank feels his destiny has changed, too. “This is the first time I've ever done this for myself and it’s worked. I have no fear what the future holds.”

For more information about the G.A. Jank Gallery go to www.soironic.ca.