May 27 to September 4, 2005

Work by R. Bruce Flowers

May 27th to September 4th, 2005

Based in London, Ontario, Bruce Flowers is a figurative sculptor whose works are highly representational and detailed. He studied art at the University of Western Ontario, the University of Guelph and the Pratt Institute. His main source of inspiration, stylistically, is the ancient statuary of Greeks, Romans and Etruscans.

Having worked as a secondary school teacher for 30 years, Flowers has exhibited primarily in regional juried and group exhibitions, with some solo exhibitions at places such as the Woodstock Art Gallery and the Ingersoll Creative Arts Centre.

For several years he has organized exhibitions for PRIDE festivities in the London region and his work is unequivocally focused on issues of equality relating to same-sex marriages and families. In particular Flowers reacts to negative and stereotypical depictions of same-sex relationships. He aspires to create a new imagery that includes issues relating to mixed race and age relationships.

The use of fragmented figures is intended to inspire the viewer to complete the image for him/herself – thereby personalizing it. The predominance of these figures with eyes closed is meant to evoke the sense of the spiritual or intuitive.

Flowers’ other main intention with his work is to create a new, or alternate, definition of masculinity. He posits that for too long societal understanding or valuation of what is masculine has rested on the ideas of strength and assertiveness. In opposition to that, Flowers’ figures are shown in nurturing poses (accompanied by expository texts). Poses and groupings are intended to demonstrate that the figures are vulnerable and nurturing. Sometimes one figure melds into the other symbolically giving up their individuality in order to become part of another. His work asserts that the feelings experienced when in love, are the same no matter what the sexual orientation, race or age.