Canada Post issued three stamps last month in the ongoing Art Canada series, celebrating the work of contemporary Saskatchewan-based sculptor Joe Fafard. The stamp designs showcase the rich diversity of subject matter, approach and choice of media Mr. Fafard has explored throughout his career.
For years, the Art Canada series has showcased the best of Canadian art with a focus on two dimensional images. “Featuring work by a sculptor has added an additional challenge,” says stamp designer Hélène L’Heureux. “First, to select three flagship works representative of the artist’s versatility; then, to present the three works from the right angle-of-view. The camera had to capture the best angle for the formal layout and also showcase the details of each sculpture.”
Throughout his career, Joe Fafard has fashioned many sculptures of animals, with an emphasis on cows and bulls. The domestic PERMANENT™ stamp features one of Mr. Fafard’s popular bovine sculptures, a work cast in bronze called Smoothly She Shifted.