At long last a book documenting the art of Godfrey Stephens has been published, and it’s stunning. Godfrey has been painting, drawing, carving, and assembling all his life (he’s now 70), and his niece Gurdeep Stephens has performed a Herculean task of sifting through a blizzard of Godfrey’s art to assemble this collection. Oh yes, he’s also built over a dozen sailboats.
I’m hardly an objective observer: I’ve known Godfrey and his art since meeting him on a Mexican beach in 1964, and he’s a dear friend. I’ve never been able to figure out why he isn’t world-famous. The quantity and quality of his output is staggering. And his energy: there are almost 800 emails in my “Stephens” mailbox, over 600 photos in my “Stephens” photo folder. How Gurdeep ever prevailed to assemble this excellent collection is beyond me. High five!
It’s best to let his art speak for itself, but I’ll just point out something about his carving: when he was 12, he hung out around Mungo Martin, a famed Kwakwaka’wakw chief who was creating totems and building a “big house”, at Thunderbird Park in Victoria. Godfrey’s best friend, Tony Hunt was Mungo’s grandson, and Godfrey and Tony started out carving little bears to sell. Godfrey has always been close to the native “First Nations” culture, with many Indian friends, and it shows in his carving. It seems to me a blend of the powerful north coast indigenous art and wide-ranging abstract and representational artistry. Godfrey doesn’t drive and he’s never had a “job.” Just art.
https://woodstormswildcanvas.com/
Wood Storms, Wild Canvas: The Art of Godfrey Stephens will have a first book-signing at Munro’s Books in Victoria, BC, on November 1st at 1 pm. Both Godfrey Stephens and the author Gurdeep Stephens will be signing copies at Munro’s between 1-2 pm on Saturday November 1st. The book will be available for sale at local independent book sellers in addition to online. For each copy sold, the publisher will plant one Native tree species locally in BC.
Thanks for posting this Lloyd, I can't wait to get the book. By the way did you see Lloyd House on your trip to Vancouver?
JD Vancouver B.C.
For sure I did! (On Hornby Island.)
Such of nice work,where can i get the book??????????
Just viewed Godfrey Stevens on this site and his amazing Art…I have know Godfrey when we were very young (15),in Campbell River. He was painting window displays…and was an exceptional Artist then …I was wondering if Godfrey has a Gallery of his own today (2019)? That we could view more of his work .? Thank you Shirley Lewis
Shirley, Best source of info on Godfrey: https://www.godfreysart.com/
Hi, Intriguing! I’m writing a novel called “Circus” about Hungarian immigrants in Montreal in the 50s and 60s.
But also about restaurants, bookstores, writers, artists, profs, and people in general.
Godfrey lived here in the early 60s, hung out at the 7 Steps bookstore with “Bicycle Bob”. I’d like to get his anecdotes, stories, about his time here.
By the way, I lived in Vancouver from 1977-83, in Kits and also on a cedar houseboat in Ladner tied to Chung Chuck’s property. I worked at CKVU-TV, at the NFB, wrote a few features for Vancouver and Western Living magazines, taught at BCIT and UBC.
I’d also go see “Dreamspeaker” Cam Hubert in Nanaimo, She was great, really supportive of my writing.
Best to you,
George Ferenczi gferenczi@yahoo.com – 514 232 3519
Hi, Intriguing! Looks wonderful! Most impressive! Diverse! Sad to horrifying Weeping Cedar Woman. Would love to get out to the West Coast to see it “live” !
Other reason for writing Godfrey is the time he lived in Montreal, hung out with Bicycle Bob at the 7 Steps bookstore … You see I’m writing a novel called “Circus” about Hungarian immigrants in Montreal in the 50s and 60s.
But also about restaurants, bookstores, writers, artists, profs, and people in general.
Godfrey lived here in the early 60s.
By the way, I lived in Vancouver from 1977-83, in Kits and also on a cedar houseboat in Ladner tied to Chung Chuck’s property. I worked at CKVU-TV, at the NFB, wrote a few features for Vancouver and Western Living magazines, taught at BCIT and UBC.
I’d also go see “Dreamspeaker” Cam Hubert in Nanaimo, She was great, really supportive of my writing.
Best to you,
George Ferenczi gferenczi@yahoo.com – 514 232 3519