BÉLA SIMO – Metal Sculptor
“Work in a sculpture studio is often solitary. For my part, I practically live in my studio, so the confinement caused by the covid-19 pandemic has not changed much for me. However, I must admit that uncertainty and anxiety have slowed down my creative impulse a little. Economic uncertainty is also weighing a lot, when contracts are absent and symposiums and exhibitions are canceled or postponed. I do not know what tomorrow will look like, or whether there will be bread on the table. So, for days, I was unable to focus on my work. But I cut down watching the news and I am back to what matters to me: creating pieces that reflects myself, my passion, my beliefs, my struggles… I am happy to share with you my latest pieces because, especially in stressful times such as these, we need art in our daily lives. I began these aluminum pieces before the start of the pandemic. Some people asked me if I was a diviner. It is up to you to decide!”You can see more of my work on my Facebook page at: facebook.com/artBelaSimo
“Le travail en studio de sculpture est souvent solitaire. Pour ma part, je vis pratiquement dans mon studio, donc le confinement entraîné par la pandémie de covid-19 n’a pas changé grand chose pour moi en ce sens. Néanmoins, je dois admettre que l’angoisse et l’anxiété ont freiné un peu mon élan créatif. L’incertitude économique est aussi très grande, alors que les contrats sont absents et que symposiums et expositions sont annulés ou reportés. Je ne sais pas de quoi demain sera fait, ni s’il y aura du pain sur la table. Donc, pendant des jours, j’ai été incapable de me concentrer sur mon travail. J’ai alors décidé de passer moins de temps à suivre l’actualité et je suis revenu à ce qui m’importe: créer des pièces qui me reflètent moi, ma passion, mes convictions, mes luttes… Je suis heureux de partager avec vous mes dernières sculptures, car, surtout en des périodes difficiles comme celles que nous vivons, nous avons besoin de l’art dans notre vie quotidienne. J’ai commencé ces pièces en aluminium avant le début de la pandémie. Certains m’ont demandé si je n’étais pas un peu devin. À vous de juger!”
Vous pouvez également voir mon travail sur ma page facebook: facebook.com/artBelaSimo
memorial I have a very large carving project to do for the Halifax Armouries. I will be replacing the bottom half of the Coat of Arms for Canada circa 1895. This will require clay modelling, plaster casts and many carved elements. The project is moving quite slowly though and I’m not sure that the timing will be in my favour. Fingers crossed.
“My name is Bill, I am born and raised in Ottawa. I am still working at CHEO on the cancer ward. I have been working in lots of venues such as painting and wood sculpture, I have built a wooden rocking horse but my main interest is soap stone, which I have been doing for several years. 
show at the Gem and Stone in the fall at the Nepean Sportsplex. I always question what prices to put on pieces and by attending the NCNS meetings I hope to get some feed back regarding this. Looking forward to meeting all of you in the future.”
to them. A large focus of my works are portraits or figures, sometimes themselves being engaged in art, such as music or dance. I have frequently worked with stone or winterstone (a concrete-based substance), but have recently been also using resin more often, which I find can create interesting effects. Attached is a picture of a piece I am currently working on – a portrait of a close friend and sculptor, Leo Mol, who I had the pleasure of knowing dating back to my time in Winnipeg (attachment #1).
“As a clay artist it is my habit to spend many hours alone in my studio but always with my 5 various animal companions to keep me company. Often in the warmer months I bring my wheel up to the back deck to engage my senses with the natural surroundings I am lucky to live in. I have a small property in Metcalfe which is full of flora and fauna and home to my two horses, two cats and Russian rescue dog. Animals are the primary subject of my sculpture work and through sales of my pieces I am able to send a portion to an animal rescue which is represented in the piece I’ve made. It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to use my meager ability in this manner.
As the self-isolation started, I undertook carving a piece of hard stone (8” x 8” x 14”, 91 lbs Brazilian Dura soapstone). I started cutting the stone with a hand saw then took to using my rotary shaft tool (Foredom) until I burned it out. I used hammer and chisel and rasps and files to shape the stone. Dura soapstone is a mix of hard and soft stone, so fine sanding results in a bumpy surface so I stopped sanding at wet 220. I finished with tung oil to highlight the bear.
Although I miss being outside for walks, bike rides, doing errands, etc., it hasn’t been all bad. The isolation has given me lots of time to clean out the accumulated junk from my studio and the basement storage. This was something we had been meaning to do for years. It is so satisfying to actually get it done! And lots of time to prepare for my next sculpture projects and to finish ones in progress. This covid-19 thing will eventually be over, spring is on its way with warmer, sunny weather and my strict quarantine is almost finished! Makes me want to sing and dance. 
Lots of time on my hands at the moment. Early March I started some new projects in the studio. The main idea was to use the glass cutting I have to create new works. I was making some progress but nothing conclusive yet when I sliced my finger… not with a piece of glass but with a vegetable mandoline. Well sculpture is off for a moment. The finger is healing nicely.
